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Top 10 Wealthiest Women Worldwide in 2024

Among the 2,781 billionaires on the list in 2024, 369 women make up 13.3% of the total, an increase from 12.8% in 2023.

With a combined net worth of about $1.8 trillion, these women have significantly increased their wealth from the previous year by about $240 billion.

For the fourth consecutive year, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress of L’Oréal, maintains her position as the richest woman in the world.

Over the previous year, her wealth has increased to $99.5 billion, the biggest gain among her female colleagues, putting her on the verge of joining the $100 billion club.

The Walmart riches heiress Alice Walton, on the other hand, had previously led the list in 2020 and 2018. The majority of the top 10 richest women—MacKenzie Scott being one of them—inherited their wealth.

The Walmart riches heiress Alice Walton, on the other hand, had previously led the list in 2020 and 2018. The majority of the top 10 richest women all inherited their wealth, with MacKenzie Scott being the exception. Scott accumulated her wealth after divorcing Jeff Bezos of Amazon.

Despite her charitable endeavors, Scott’s wealth increased significantly to $35.6 billion.

Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the wealthiest self-made woman on the list; she is a co-founder of a well-known shipping company.

It’s interesting to note that 69 of the women on the list are actively expanding their inherited enterprises, 200 have inherited money, and 100 are self-made.

As the tenth richest woman in the world, Abigail Johnson is the CEO of Fidelity Investments and is renowned for her contribution to the company’s growth after her father’s tenure.

Taylor Swift is a newcomer to the billionaire scene. Her successful Eras Tour elevated her to the position of billionaire, making her the first musician to achieve this feat solely via music.

These are the top ten richest women in the world, per Ambusiness.

1. Meyers, Françoise Bettencourt, and family

Net worth: $99.5 billion; age: 70; L’Oréal is the source of wealth; French citizenship

She is the legitimate heir to the enormous fortune of the L’Oréal family and has maintained her position as the richest woman in the world for the past four years. Her grandmother founded the company. Most of her fortune comes from her significant stake of about 35% of the prestigious cosmetics company L’Oréal Group. With a revenue of more than $45 billion and well-known brands including Kiehl’s, Maybelline, and Lancôme, the business continues to be a major force in the cosmetics sector. Bettencourt Meyers, whose net worth of $42.2 billion made her debut on Forbes’ billionaires list in 2018, received her wealth from her late mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who passed away in 2017.

2. Alice Walton

 

Net worth: $72.3 billion; age: 74; wealth source: Walmart; nationality: United States.

This year has seen a notable growth in fortune for the richest woman in America, Alice Walton, whose net worth has increased by $15.6 billion. The noteworthy increase of 34% in Walmart’s stock price in the last year is responsible for this noteworthy gain.

Being the only child of Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton (who passed away in 1992), she set herself apart from her brothers by refusing to take a seat on the board of the retailer. Rather, she focused her efforts on the arts and became well-known for founding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The notable collection on display at this museum includes pieces by well-known artists like Mark Rothko, Norman Rockwell, and Andy Warhol.

3. Julia Koch and her kin

Net worth: $64.3 billion; age: 61; wealth source: Koch Industries; nationality: United States.

This year, the widow of David Koch—who passed away in 2019—moved up to the third position among the wealthiest women. She inherited a sizable 42% share in Koch Industries, a diverse company that includes products for the home like paper towels, medical technology, and oil refining, along with her three children. Interestingly, she is a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

4. The late Jacqueline Mars

$38.5 billion in net worth, 84 years old, American citizenship, candy and pet food as sources of wealth.

The heiress of Mars Inc. owns the well-known candy and pet food giant together with her brother John Mars and the four daughters of her late brother Forrest Jr. Renowned brands including M&Ms, Snickers, Ben’s Original, and Pedigree dog food are among the many well-known brands owned by Mars Inc. Since its founding in 1911 by their grandpa Frank C. Mars, who started selling buttercream candies out of his kitchen, the business has expanded to become a major force in the world economy. Notably, her son Stephen Badger is a member of the Mars Inc. board of directors.

5. MacKenzie Scott

Net Worth: $35.6 billion; Age: 53; Amazon is the source of wealth; Citizenship: United States.

In 2019, after divorcing Jeff Bezos, the multibillionaire philanthropist bought a 4% share in Amazon. She promised to donate most of her riches shortly after. Scott recently gave $640 million to 361 organizations in a competitive grant scheme in March, in an astounding act of generosity. Her charitable efforts, which have amassed an astounding $17.3 billion to date, are typified by a multitude of smaller, unconstrained gifts that often take recipients by surprise.

6. The Jindal family of Savitri

$33.5 billion in net worth; 74 years old; steel as a source of wealth; Indian citizenship

She is the richest woman in India; she is the widow of Om Prakash Jindal, the founder of Jindal Group, who passed away in 2005. She also serves as the chair of the company. The Jindal Group is a dynamic player in a number of industries, such as infrastructure, steel, electricity, and cement. After O.P. Jindal tragically died in a helicopter accident, his four sons inherited the group’s assets and are currently in charge of them on their own. Rising share prices in 2023 helped Jindal’s fortunes, putting her at the top of the list of richest women.

7. Rafaela Diamant Aponte

Net worth: $33.1 billion; age: 79; wealth source: shipping; nationalities: Italy and Switzerland

Aponte-Diamant owns half of MSC, together with her husband Gianluigi Aponte, who launched the business with her in 1970. MSC has expanded to become the world’s biggest shipping company. Notably, she is in charge of the interior design of the ships run by the company’s affiliate, MSC Cruises. Their first ship was purchased with a $200,000 loan, which marked the beginning of their industry journey.

8. The Adelson family of Miriam

$32 billion in net worth, 78 years old, American citizenship, casinos as the source of wealth.

Adelson and her family own a majority share in one of the world’s leading casino operators, Las Vegas Sands. After her husband, Sheldon Adelson, a well-known Republican, passed away in 2021, she acquired this portion.

In addition to her work in the gambling industry, she practices medicine. According to Forbes estimates, she has given more than $1 billion to fund drug discovery and medical research programs over her lifetime.

9. Gina Rinehart

$30.8 billion in net worth, 70 years old, mining as a source of wealth, and Australian citizenship

The mining and agricultural company Hancock Prospecting Group, which the Australian businesswoman inherited from her father Lang Hancock after his death in 1992, is chaired by her. Since March 2023, her wealth has increased by 14%, maintaining her position as the richest person in Australia.

10. Johnson Abigail

$29 billion in net worth, age 62, Fidelity Investments as the source of wealth, and US citizenship.

This year, the CEO of the massive mutual fund company Fidelity made a comeback to the list of the 10 wealthiest women, where she had previously been ranked 11th. Since 2014, Johnson has held the position of CEO at Fidelity Investments, taking over from her father, Edward “Ned” Johnson III, who passed away in 2022. The corporation, which was created by her grandfather in 1946 and has $4.9 trillion in managed assets, is owned by her to the tune of about 28.5%.