There are around 2,668 billionaires globally, but only 327 women make up this elite wealth group, with a combined fortune of $1.56 trillion.
Some of these women are the heiresses of wealthy families, while others are self-made having started or co-founded successful companies that brought them money.
These very wealthy tycoons have the power to affect many aspects of the world's life, including politics, the media, economics, and much more.
Top 10 Richest Women in the World in 2024
1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers - $99.5 billion
Image Source: Twitter
The richest woman in the world is 70-year-old French heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers. She is the granddaughter of L'Oréal, the corporation that developed makeup. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, a French entrepreneur, philanthropist, writer, and wealthy heiress, was born on July 10, 1953. Forbes estimates her net worth to be over US$100 billion as of December 2023, making her the richest woman in the world. She is Eugène Schueller, the creator of L'Oréal's granddaughter, and the sole child and heir of Liliane Bettencourt. Following the passing of her mother in September 2017, her wealth increased threefold because to investments made through Téthys Invest, the family holding company, and the high stock market value of L'Oréal shares.
2. Alice Walton - $64.8 billion
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The 74-year-old is the heir apparent to Walmart, an American chain of supermarkets. It is estimated that she has almost $15 billion worth of Walmart shares. Born on October 7, 1949, Alice Louise Walton is an American who is the daughter of Walmart's founder, Sam Walton, and heir to the company's wealth. She possessed more than $11 billion in Walmart stock as of September 2016. With a net worth of $71 billion as of November 2023, Walton is the second-richest woman in the world and the 17th richest person overall, after Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
3. Julia Koch - $60.1 billion
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Following her husband David's death in 2019, the 61-year-old and her three children received a 42% share in Koch Industries. She is a philanthropist and socialite from America. One of the wealthiest women in the world, Julia Margaret Flesher Koch is an American socialite and philanthropist who was born on April 12, 1962. With a $59 billion fortune, she came in second place among all women worldwide in the annual Forbes ranking for April 2023. Her late husband David Koch left her wealth, and he passed away in 2019.
4. Jacqueline Mars - $39.8 billion
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The 84-year-old American is the heir apparent to the food and confectionery business Mars Incorporated. She is an investor, philanthropist, and supporter of women's education. Born on October 10, 1939, Jacqueline Mars is an American investor and heiress. She is the granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, the founder of the American candy firm Mars, Incorporated, and the daughter of Audrey Ruth (Meyer) and Forrest Mars, Sr. Her net worth was assessed by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index to be US$46.4 billion as of November 2023, making her the 24th richest person in the world (tied with her brother John).
5. Mackenzie Scott - $34.5 billion
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When the 53-year-old filed for divorce from her husband, founder Jeff Bezos, in 2019, she claimed a 4% share in the company. The author and philanthropist has promised to give away at least half of her fortune throughout her lifetime. Born on April 7, 1970, in Tuttle, previously Bezos, MacKenzie Scott is an American author and philanthropist. With a net worth of US$40.6 billion as of January 2024, she owns 4% of Amazon, the business that her ex-husband Jeff Bezos started. Scott is therefore the 47th wealthiest person in the world and the third wealthiest woman in the United States.
6. Miriam Adelson - $33.8 billion
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The 78-year-old was married to Sheldon Adelson, who passed away in 2021 as the former CEO of Las Vegas Sands, a casino firm. In addition to running the business, the American-Israeli also donates to politics and is a philanthropist. Born on October 10, 1945, Miriam Adelson (née Farbstein) is a physician, philanthropist, and political contributor who is American and Israeli. Sheldon Adelson and her were wed from 1991 till his passing in 2021. With a projected net worth of $32.8 billion as of November 2023, she is thought to be the sixth richest woman in America. Following his death, she acquired ownership of the Las Vegas Sands.
7. Gina Rinehart - $30.2 billion
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The 69-year-old Australian millionaire is a mining tycoon who revived her father's Hancock Prospecting, a mineral exploration and extraction business. She is the wealthiest individual in the nation and a cattle producer in addition to an investor. Born on February 9, 1954, Georgina Hope Rinehart AO, sometimes known as Hancock, is an Australian millionaire and heir to the mining industry. Hancock Prospecting, a privately held mineral exploration and extraction business started by Rinehart's father, Lang Hancock, is led by her as executive chairwoman.
8. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant - $30 billion
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Together with her husband Gianluigi Aponte, the 78-year-old Swiss entrepreneur is the owner of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, the biggest shipping company in the world. The fact that there isn't a picture of her indicates that she is still very much out of the spotlight. Along with her husband, Gianluigi Aponte, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is an Italian billionaire and a significant stakeholder in the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group.
9. Savitri Jindal - $29.4 billion
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The 83-year-old is the widow of Om Prakash Jindal, the founder of the Jindal Group, which is involved in infrastructure, steel, electricity, and cement. She is a politician as well as an entrepreneur. Savitri Devi Jindal is an Indian politician and entrepreneur who was born on March 20, 1940. She is the O.P. Jindal Group's chairman emerita. She serves as the Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, president as well. The Jindal family's projected net worth as of February 2024 is $29.5 billion.
10. Abigail Johnson - $28.6 billion
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The sixty-two-year-old is the current CEO and heir of the American financial company Fidelity Investments. Born on December 19, 1961, Abigail Pierrepont Johnson is an American billionaire entrepreneur. Her grandfather, Edward C. Johnson II, founded Fidelity Investments, and she is the granddaughter of this guy. Johnson has served as head of Fidelity International (FIL), the former sister company of American investment business Fidelity Investments (FMR), and president and chief executive officer (CEO) of FMR since 2014.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest Women in India in 2024
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Akanksha Sinha
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