Country: China Company: Sun Hung Kai Properties Net Worth: $14.8 Billion.
The Kwong family is one of the richest ones in Asia. Kwong Siu-hing was married to Kwok Tak-seng who established Sun Hung Kai Properties, which made her the billionaire she is today. She was born in 1929, almost a century ago, and is still very much active. Sun Hung Kai Properties is Hong Kong’s biggest property developer, and Kwong holds more than 40% of its shares.
![Kwong Siu-hing Kwong Siu-hing | Getty Images Photo by David Wong/South China Morning Post](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_f8b14ab8a8183d729669d3cd0682a58e/GettyImages-1125135778-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-KwongSiu-hing.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The Kwong family has a few family scandals that have been publicized and led Siu-hing to sit on the board of the company on more than one occasion. As of today, she is the sole chairman of the company.
Julia Koch
Country: USA Company: David H. Koch Charitable Foundation Net Worth: $57 Billion.
Julia Margaret (now Koch) didn't work very hard for her future. She inherited the billions after her husband, David Koch, died in 2019. She used to be on the board of the School of American Ballet, and these days she is the president of the David H. Koch Foundation.
![Julia Koch Julia Koch | Getty Images Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_156dada2e87c5f3b9e7e7c11a9588a93/GettyImages-1459664866-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714547431950.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She is recognized for the many donations and contributions that come with her name. Koch is a well-known philanthropist, so there is no surprise that she adorns the list as one of the top richest women in the entire world.
Mackenzie Scott
Country: USA Company: Amazon Net Worth: $27 Billion.When Mackenzie Scott divorced Jeff Bezos, she took with her a 4% stake in Amazon, which Bezos founded. This divorce settlement is what placed her in the top five as one of the richest women in the world.
![Mackenzie Scott Mackenzie Scott | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_a7638a65565bb201391d90b843cb94f4/2F1BM5T-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-MacKenzieScott.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Miriam Adelson
Country: Israel Company: Las Vegas Sands Net Worth: $35 Billion.
Miriam Adelson made her fortune when she married the American billionaire Sheldon Adelson in 1991. She has since been known for her political engagements and her current activity as a newspaper publisher.
![Miriam Adelson Miriam Adelson | Shutterstock](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_6eb94be71cf431fa5fc0a5cdd2afc7b9/shutterstock_416559706-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-MiriamAdelson.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
In 2008 she received (together with her husband) the Woodrow Wilson Award, and in 2018 she received by Donald Trump the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Adelson is the richest Israeli woman in the world. Moreover, she is one of the top ten richest women globally and owns most of the shares of the Las Vegas Sands resort and casino.
Wu Yajun
Country: China Company: Longfor Properties Net Worth: $18.3 Billion.
Wu Yajun is the co-founder and chairwoman of Longfor Properties, and that is where she made her loot. Up until the 1990s, she was involved in journalism, however, she then turned to real estate, and from there, the skies were the limit. Over the years, Yajun invested in huge companies, including Uber and Evernote, where she made even more money.
![Wu Yajun Wu Yajun | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_1eb20c99b679b99c54adafd2e5b02643/W972MR-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-WuYajun.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714547702725.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
In 1995 Yajun established with her then-husband, Chongqing Zhongjianke Real Estate, which later turned into Longfor Properties. They initially invested more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million), and today the company is worth more than $154 billion.
Savitri Jindal
Country: India Company: O.P. Jindal Group Net Worth: $16.5 Billion.
Savitri Jindal is an Indian politician and Businesswoman who made a fortune during her years as chairperson of O.P. Jindal Group and president of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College. This status makes her the richest woman in India.
![Savitri Jindal Savitri Jindal | Getty Images Photo by Rajkumar/Mint](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_6549b3f6bbbc6899053df628685f6a5a/GettyImages-486155042-e1714547894271.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Jindal began her political life in 2005, following in her late husband's footsteps, who was a dominant figure in the Indian government. She served as Ministry of State and Ministry of Power. O.P. Jindal group, owned by Jindal's family, was first established in 1952 and has since become the largest steel producer in India.
Zhou Qunfei
Country: China Company: Lens Technology Net Worth: $5.5 Billion.
Zhou Qunfei has many titles to her name. She is known to be the richest woman in the tech industry, she is the wealthiest self-made woman in the world, and she is the richest woman in China. Qunfei made her fortune after establishing Lens Technology, one of the leading touchscreen producers.
![Zhou Qunfei Zhou Qunfei | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_86046c7324b3a9b253f936836c9860f5/W8J4D1-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-ZhouQunfei.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714548448335.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Her childhood dream was to become a leading fashion designer. To do so, she began working in a watch-making factory where she managed to save some money. Then, at the age of 22, she invested all she had and established her own company that offered top-of-line watch lenses. Her fashion designer dream may have vanished, however, since then, she established more than 11 companies whose worth together is unknown.
Renáta Kellnerová
Country: Czech Company: PPF Net Worth: $16.5 Billion.
Renáta Kellnerová is best known for being the widow of the billionaire Petr Kellner, who lost his life in a devastating helicopter crash. Petr founded the PPF Group in the early 1990s, and it became the biggest investment company in Europe. After his death, the fortune went to Renáta. The two share three daughters as well as Petr's son from a previous marriage,
![Renáta Kellnerová Renáta Kellnerová | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_67e6ee74154dcbc7fc4218b707835cd5/2F617W1-scaled.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She is the richest Czech citizen, however, she donates, encourages, and promotes good causes, especially in education, all over her homeland. In 2022 she entered Forbes Billionar List and has been starring on it ever since.
Kwong Siu-hing
Country: China Company: Sun Hung Kai Properties Net Worth: $14.8 Billion.
The Kwong family is one of the richest ones in Asia. Kwong Siu-hing was married to Kwok Tak-seng who established Sun Hung Kai Properties, which made her the billionaire she is today. She was born in 1929, almost a century ago, and is still very much active. Sun Hung Kai Properties is Hong Kong's biggest property developer, and Kwong holds more than 40% of its shares.
![Kwong Siu-hing Kwong Siu-hing | Getty Images Photo by David Wong/South China Morning Post](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_f8b14ab8a8183d729669d3cd0682a58e/GettyImages-1125135778-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2023-KwongSiu-hing.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The Kwong family has a few family scandals that have been publicized and led Siu-hing to sit on the board of the company on more than one occasion. As of today, she is the sole chairman of the company.
Oprah Winfrey
Country: USA Company: Harpo Productions, The Oprah Winfrey Network Net Worth: $2.5 Billion.
The woman who is famous all over the world for her talk show and her propensity for gift-giving is also one of the richest women in the world. Oprah Winfrey has truly become successful against all odds. She began her media career on the radio and landed a few TV appearances, but her big break came when she got a role in Steven Spielberg’s "The Color Purple."
![Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey | Getty Images Photo by Andrew Chin](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_93bf1a93362318f3a79f9007d15bf728/GettyImages-1158159716-Oprah-Winfrey.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
After the film, she introduced an innovative talk show and changed the genre forever. Ever since, Oprah has used her fame, influence, and wealth to shine a light on social problems plaguing our world. She is invested not only in media but also in everything from real estate to publishing.
Georgina Bloomberg
Country: USA Company: New York Empire Equestrian Team Net Worth: $100 Million.
Georgina Bloomberg is a businesswoman, a professional equestrian, and a philanthropist. Her name may sound familiar because she is the daughter of former New York mayor and famous billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg was obviously immensely wealthy from the get-go, but her drive and determination also played an important part in building her fortune.
![Georgina Bloomberg Georgina Bloomberg | Getty Images Photo by Theo Wargo/Good+Foundation](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_0f99ce7183b40ec2d0aee232caa59134/GettyImages-1153948158-Georgina-Bloomberg.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
While dominating the field of equestrian sport, Bloomberg also closed sponsorship deals and co-wrote young adult books about the equestrian circuit. She also somehow found time to start a charity that donates new and used riding clothes and boots to therapeutic riding clubs and others who need them and donates millions to organizations that preserve or protect animals.
Amanda Hearst
Country: USA Company: Marie Claire, Friends of Finn Net Worth: $100 Million.
Media magnate William Randolph Hearst’s great-granddaughter (and heiress) is Amanda Hearst, which makes her one of the youngest millionaires on the planet. Hearst was born into a life of privilege but also learned how to use the family’s resources to promote her own career efforts.
![Amanda Hearst Amanda Hearst | Getty Images Photo by Vivien Killilea/ MAISON-DE-MODE.COM](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_993a16732934aa3026c89455ab2e96a2/GettyImages-1126994087-Amanda-Hearst-e1714548517681.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She is the founder of Friends of Finn, a charity dedicated to ending animal cruelty in puppy farms all over the world. When not spending her time on the socialite circuit, Hearst works as a marketing editor for the women’s magazine Marie Claire.
Sheryl Sandberg
Country: USA Company: Facebook Net Worth: $1.5 Billion.
The COO of Meta Platforms is billionaire Sheryl Sandberg. She attended Harvard University and Harvard Business School and started working for the Clinton administration’s Department of Treasury not long after graduation. She later joined Google, and her accomplishments did not go unnoticed by Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, who was sufficiently impressed to make her his COO. Sandberg is mainly known for making Facebook profitable through the use of hidden advertising.
![Sheryl Sandberg Sheryl Sandberg | Getty Images Photo by Drew Angere](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_fd766c81ae325347f3d5c39ff6989eca/GettyImages-996296072-Sheryl-Sandberg.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Sandberg is also known, however, for her integral part in the Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the privacy data from millions of users was sold to third-party companies without their consent. Her involvement and her incredible fortune make Sandberg one of the richest women in the world today.
Laurene Powell Jobs
Country: USA Company: Apple Inc., Disney Net Worth: $12.4 Billion.
Laurene Powell Jobs, an American businesswoman and philanthropist, studied political science at the University of Pennsylvania and got her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She was the spouse of the late legendary Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs. She now has control of Apple but still finds time to manage her own business, Emerson Collective.
![Laurene Powell Jobs Laurene Powell Jobs | Getty Images Photo by Michael Cohen/The New York Times](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_e8c45e7219c8f310e12e9c608cab13b2/GettyImages-872245206-Laurene-Powell-Jobs.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The Emerson Collective is an organization that supports reform in immigration policies, conservation, and the criminal justice system. It also lobbies to improve the education system and allow low-income students more opportunities.
Holly Branson
Country: UK Company: Virgin Group, Virgin Unite Net Worth: $5 Million.
Holly Branson is the daughter of renowned businessman Richard Branson, the head of the illustrious and multi-faceted Virgin empire. Although Holly was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she is a lot more than just a rich heiress. After earning her medical degree, she later employed that knowledge when she finally joined the family business at her father’s insistence.
![Holly Branson Holly Branson | Getty Images Photo by GOR/GC Images](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_aee29cd88348d67ca7a5d0f240b8d2df/GettyImages-1154510394-Holly-Branson-e1714548649109.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
In her work at Virgin, Branson uses her position to advance human rights causes around the world, with a special focus on empowerment and equality for all women. She personally takes point on a majority of Virgin’s nonprofit campaigns in disadvantaged areas.
Sara Blakely
Country: USA Company: The Atlanta Hawks, Spanx Net Worth: $1.1 Billion.
When Blakely graduated from University, she was struggling financially. She became a door-to-door saleswoman of fax machines. Her hours of walking around in the humid heat made Blakely inventive. In order to cool herself down a little, she modified her pantyhose by removing the legs but leaving the form-fitting waistline.
![Sara Blakely Sara Blakely | Getty Images Photo by Bennett Raglin/Fast Company](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_dd091c690751bc580f3c6f3c4c07e47e/GettyImages-1053355306-Sara-Blakely.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
What was left is now globally known by women under the name Spanx, and went on to make her tremendously wealthy. To this day, Spanx is a top seller in women’s intimate attire worldwide. The company, which is also named Spanx, brings in billions of dollars each year. Blakely uses part of the money to help women across the globe receive education and entrepreneurial training to develop their ideas.
J.K. Rowling
Country: UK Company: Harry Potter franchise Net Worth: $1 Billion.
J.K. Rowling’s story is almost as famous as her books. She started out as a single mother who had to wait tables to make ends meet. Despite her hard times, Rowling managed to finish "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone." The first draft of the book was rejected by twelve publishers but eventually got to a major UK publisher.
![J.K. Rowling J.K. Rowling | Getty Images Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_b84af99f1ad124e6d0f920e44dfb96d4/GettyImages-1061365848-J.K.-Rowling-e1714548715661.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
He saw potential but still advised Rowling to find a day job. No one anticipated the enormous success that was coming. Rowling is possibly the only billionaire ever to have made all of her money through her work as an author. The Harry Potter franchise, including books, movies, toys, video games, and more, have magically given Rowling her happily ever after.
Kylie Jenner
Country: USA Company: Kylie Cosmetics Net Worth: $750 Million.
Kylie Jenner, one of the youngest members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, was introduced to the public in the family’s hit reality show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Like most members of that famous family, she found a way to turn her fame into big business. She launched a cosmetics company by the recognizable name of Kylie Cosmetics. It was immediately a huge success.
![Kylie Jenner Kylie Jenner | Getty Images Photo by Kevin Tachman/MG19/The Met Museum/Vogue](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_d2d15993966c5fbf3d415692649606a7/GettyImages-1147449252-Kylie-Jenner-e1714554863652.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The successful business helped the young celebrity become something that even her more famous family members could not quite attain: the status of a billionaire businesswoman (although the status has been dynamic). Kylie Cosmetics brings in millions in revenue each year and is still growing as Kylie expands into new products.
María Asunción Aramburuzabala
Country: Mexico Company: Grupo Modelo Net Worth: $6.3 Billion.
María Asunción Aramburuzabala Larregui is a billionaire businesswoman of Mexican descent. She serves as the chairwoman for the investment firm Tresalia Capital. Her grandfather was the founder of the famous brewery Grupo Modelo. When María’s father passed away, María, her mother, and her sisters joined together to keep outsiders from taking over their company.
![María Asunción Aramburuzabala María Asunción Aramburuzabala | Getty Images Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_7ebeff5d355082d25e9662ae6a90b6ab/GettyImages-80683439-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-MariaAramburuzabala.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714554957669.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
They were successful in their endeavors, and these days María is believed to be the second wealthiest woman in Mexico, with Tresalia Capital holding investments in many of Mexico’s largest companies. Formerly married to US ambassador Tony Garza, María is the mother of two children.
Penny Pritzker
Country: USA Company: PSP Capital Partners, Pritzker Realty Group Net Worth: $3.2 Billion.
The Pritzker family manages some of the biggest conglomerates in America, with Penny’s father in charge of the Hyatt Hotel chain. As the head of the Pritzker Realty Group, Penny developed apartment buildings, shopping malls, and even an entire neighborhood in Florida.
![Penny Pritzker Penny Pritzker | Getty Images Photo by Paul Morigi](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_932131a26841719800d6f2d0163dd83e/GettyImages-884987870-Penny-Pritzker-e1714555020740.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Her work was noticed by former President Barack Obama, who invited Pritzker to be his Secretary of Commerce. She turned down the offer due to family obligations and potential conflicts of interest. Instead, she was an advisor to the Obama administration on foreign relations and sat on the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. In 2013, after selling her interest in many companies and resigning from her duties, Pritzker was sworn in as Secretary of Commerce.
Iris Fontbona
Country: Chile Company: Antofagasta PLC Net Worth: $24.1 Billion.
Iris Fontbona, the billionaire business owner, was born in Santiago, Chile. She is Chile’s richest person and also a well-known philanthropist. Fontbona has investments and holdings in numerous companies all over the world. After her husband’s death in 2005, Fontbona inherited some of his businesses and has managed to make them more successful than ever.
![Iris Fontbona Iris Fontbona | Flickr Photo by bancochile](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_c4d9244539bd1b3d0156d3b29400b3d5/6096253887_39fda09fc2_c-IrisFontbona.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Her other business holdings include a line of luxury hotel chains and resorts in Croatia and in southern Europe. She also owns 70% of the shares in Canal 13, one of Chile’s most popular television stations. Her charitable work focuses on helping children with disabilities, and she has appeared on several telethons.
Antonia Johnson
Country: Sweden Company: Axel Johnson Group Net Worth: $9.8 Billion.
Antonia Axson Johnson was born in 1943 in New York City. She attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and earned her master’s degree in psychology and economics at Stockholm University. She has also received an honorary doctorate in civil law from Bishop’s University in Quebec. Johnson is the main shareholder of the Axel Johnson Group. The company was founded by her great-grandfather in 1873 and has since been a family-run business.
![Antonia Johnson Antonia Johnson | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_9ce13d3715935b8c91abbb1d6f0d5d81/2GJ9GMP-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-AntoniaAxsonJohnson.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Over time it became a holding company with four independent companies under one common ownership. Numerous companies under Axel are traded both on the LSE and the NYSE. Antonia took over the company in 1982 and is the main owner and shareholder.
Alice Walton
Country: USA Company: Walmart Net Worth: $60.2 Billion.
Walton started out as a money manager and equity specialist for First Commerce Corporation. She also worked as an investment advisor and a broker at a number of companies before starting her own business called Llama Company. It was an investment bank where Walton served as president, chairwoman, and CEO.
![Alice Walton Alice Walton | Getty Images Photo by Rick T. WilkingPaul Morigi](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_d34ed25a9850890a50d4acc188f08b8b/GettyImages-965568300-Alice-Walton.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The company played an important role in establishing the Northwest Regional Airport in Arkansas. In 2015, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to focus on her latest project — an art museum she founded called Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She is an art lover and an avid collector. She recently acquired a Durand painting at Sotheby’s gallery in New York for $35 million.
Miuccia Prada
Country: Italy Company: Prada Net Worth: $5.2 Billion.
Prada was born in 1949 in Milan, Italy. She attended the University of Milan, where she received her Ph.D. in political science. She managed to impress Prada bosses in 1985 when she designed a line of finely woven handbags made from nylon. Seven years later, she got the chance to introduce the secondary brand of Miu Miu.
![Miuccia Prada Miuccia Prada | Getty Images Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_0d1f9824402c8d718681ce75e2df1f69/GettyImages-1148092323-Miuccia-Prada-e1714555104217.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Miu Miu, while less expensive than Prada, is still very much a luxury fashion brand. Miuccia, who was showing her work at Milan Fashion Week, began to also exhibit her work at the New York and London fashion weeks in the 1990s. Since then, Prada has become one of the most iconic names in the world of fashion.
Yang Huiyan
Country: China Company: Country Garden Holdings Net Worth: $9.8 Billion.
Yang Huiyan is a Chinese real estate mogul and the richest woman in all of Asia. Her father, who was the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings with a 57% stake in the company, transferred his shares to her. Huiyan took the business and made it even more successful and accrued an immense amount of wealth in the process.
![Yang Huiyan Yang Huiyan | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_e863188fa66725e2557b3b81a58f4bf2/W54FG3-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-YangHuiyan.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She was born in Shunde, in the Guangdong Province of China, and her father, Yang Gouqiang, started his company, Country Garden Holdings, in 1997. Yang studied in America and got her degree at Ohio State University. China’s booming real estate market and her ability to sell shares allowed her to raise over $400 million dollars from investors in just one year.
Jacqueline Desmarais
Country: Canada Company: Power Corp. Net Worth: $4.2 Billion.
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and residing in Le Domaine Laforest, Quebec, Jacqueline Desmarais was a billionaire and a Canadian national. She was famous for her shrewd business sense but also for her charitable activities. Desmarais was a strong supporter of music and opera and donated large sums of money to Canadian musical organizations.
![Jacqueline Desmarais Jacqueline Desmarais | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_9eedb1b634ebd9ccd1224d0727a3a049/2E7TTGK-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-PaulDesmaraisJacquelineDesmarais.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714555146470.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Desmarais’ second son Andre is married to the daughter of the former Canadian prime minister. Jacqueline was the creator of an eponymous foundation, the purpose of which was to help young opera singers get their start. She lived in a seventy-five-acre estate and remained there until her death in March 2018 at the age of 89.
Denise DeBartolo York
Country: USA Company: The DeBartolo Corporation, San Francisco 49ers Net Worth: $5.1 Billion.
The surprising owner of the NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers, is billionaire Denise DeBartolo York. York’s father was Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., an American businessman and construction mogul. When he passed away, he left York his enormous fortune. After graduation, she began working in the family business and became co-chairman after her father’s death in 1994.
![Denise DeBartolo York Denise DeBartolo York | Getty Images Photo by Michael Zagaris](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_30f47e819340949e08e62b86fa038f9b/GettyImages-83397135-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-DeniseDeBartoloYork.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714555190336.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
York’s love of sports team ownership began when her father purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team. She loved running the team and even led them to a Stanley Cup victory in 1990. These days, she is most famous for her ownership of the 49ers, which she also co-chairs. Although her son Jed York has taken over the team’s everyday matters.
Susanne Klatten
Country: Germany Company: BMW, Altana Net Worth: $23.4 Billion.
Susanne Klatten, originally Susanne Quandt, was born in Germany in 1963. She is a German citizen and still resides in the country. She married Jan Klatten in 1990, and they have three children together. Klatten attended IMD-Lausanne and received her MBA. She is famously known as the richest woman in Germany.
![Susanne Klatten Susanne Klatten | Getty Images Photo by Andreas Rentz](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_d9072ca3be65ec43d79bc239add98f1c/GettyImages-633849598-Susanne-Klatten-e1714555242934.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Klatten is the primary shareholder of an enormous pharma and chemical manufacturer Altana. She inherited 50.1% of the company when her father passed away and was responsible for helping the company become a first-rate corporation. Altana is now on the German DAX list of the top 30 companies. Klatten also inherited a 12.5% stake in the luxury car brand BMW and serves on the company’s board alongside her brother.
Alexandra Andresen
Country: Norway Company: Ferd AS Net Worth: $ 1.6 Billion.
Alexandra Andresen was only 19 when she broke the record to become the world’s youngest billionaire. She received most of her fortune through the inheritance of almost half of her father’s company, Ferd AS, several years earlier. Another large portion of the company was given to her sister Katharina. Andresen took the money and turned it into a business empire.
![Alexandra Andresen Alexandra Andresen | Instagram/@alexandraandresen](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_b7938c73704b1143a0c6409dc90e9631/igalexandraandresen-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She also did some side work as a fashion model, which couldn’t have hurt. The money and fame, however, did not go to Andersen’s head. She reportedly still drives used cars and opts to save her earnings instead of wildly spending them on an extravagant lifestyle. This makes her one of the more down-to-earth and humble billionaires on our list.
Dylan Lauren
Country: USA Company: Dylan’s Candy Bar Net Worth: $50 Million.
Everyone knows that Dylan’s Candy Bar is a place you just have to visit if you are in New York City. It was founded in 2011 by Dylan Lauren, a billionaire and the daughter of fashion icon Ralph Lauren. It was rumored that Dylan came up with the idea for the store when she was just a child, after watching the classic film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."
![Dylan Lauren Dylan Lauren | Getty Images Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Breast Cancer Research Foundation](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_6416a7124f749e1acddd01a8d0ef06cc/GettyImages-1149379091-Dylan-Lauren-e1714555290919.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
While the flagship store is still in New York City, Dylan’s Candy Bar has opened locations in Los Angeles, Miami Beach, Chicago, and more, and its candy can also be purchased online from almost anywhere in the world.
Anna Anissimova Schafer
Country: Russia Company: Actress Net Worth: $4 Million.
Enormously wealthy Russian socialite, Anna Anissimova Schafer, inherited an immense family fortune. Her father, Vasily Anisimov, amassed his billions through the metal industry. Schafer, however, was not content to live on family money alone and had plenty of her own ideas. She used her good looks and extravagant style to make a name for herself as an actress and model.
![Anna Anissimova Schafer Anna Anissimova Schafer | Getty Images Photo by David Livingston](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_2408ea30566396efbcaf9d32df03bc82/GettyImages-497300492-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-AnnaAnissimova.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714555355816.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She turned to real estate, too, and used her family money to scoop up some of the most expensive properties on the market. These days, she is married to an American film producer and enjoys the quiet life near Los Angeles while occasionally working as an actress and producer.
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus
Country: Switzerland Company: Louis Dreyfus Company Net Worth: $3.5 Billion.
Dreyfus (neé Bogdanova) is of Russian descent but is currently a Swiss citizen. She is the chairwoman of the international merchant empire Louis Dreyfus. Margarita met her future husband, Louis Dreyfus, on a flight in 1988. She was then employed by a company that sold circuit boards but quit after falling in love to become a stay-at-home wife and mother.
![Margarita Louis-Dreyfus Margarita Louis-Dreyfus | Getty Images Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_8b36f33129a7b2f88bed61ef03cc1d05/GettyImages-491324284-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-MargaritaLouis-Dreyfus.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714555410352.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714556190228.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Her new husband at the time was serving as the head of the Dreyfus Group. When Louis sadly passed away, Margarita became the head of the company. She now lives in Zurich with her new husband and twin daughters and has recently acquired the French football team Olympique de Marseille for more than $50 million.
Gina Rinehart
Country: Australia Company: Hancock Prospecting Net Worth: $29.6 Billion.
Georgina Hope Rinehart is the chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting in Australia. They are a privately-owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by Lang Hancock, Gina’s father, in 1955. Rinehart, who was born in Perth in 1954, is now the wealthiest person in Australia. She did a short stint at the University of Sydney but quit school to work for the family business. She became the manager of the company in 1992 following her father’s death.
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These days, Gina Rinehart is a mining mogul with a 76.6% share in the company. Since she was an only child, the remaining shares were left to Lang’s four grandchildren. They are currently in a trust, with Gina serving as the trustee.
Sherry Brydson
Country: Canada Company: Woodbridge Net Worth: $13.8 Billion.
Sherry Brydson is the largest stakeholder in Woodbridge, an investment firm headquartered in Ontario, Canada. Woodbridge has a controlling interest in Thomson-Reuters, an enormous mass media and information company. In turn, Thomson Reuters has a controlling interest in Westlaw, a service that provides legal information, among other things.
![Sherry Brydson Sherry Brydson | Twitter/@sherry_brydson](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_0486019b71820a9c5ac7f43083a5d4f2/twitter-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-SherryBrydson.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Not many people know this, but in addition to her work at Woodbridge, Brydson is also the news editor of the University of Toronto newspaper. She also founded a branch of the family business in Westkirk with a focus on investments. Through that office, she is the owner of Viking Air and Vista Radio, making her a real business and media mogul.
Kirsty Bertarelli
Country: UK Company: Miss UK (Winner) Net Worth: $12.5 Billion.
Kristy Bertarelli, a British national who currently resides in Switzerland, was born in 1971 in Staffordshire, UK. She is a singer-songwriter and the winner of the Miss UK pageant in 1988, in which she took home the crown. She has been married to billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli for many years, and the couple has three children.
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Bertarelli has gained fame for her music but also for her philanthropy. She is a staunch supporter of good causes like the Smiling Children Foundation and also has her very own charity. The Bertarelli Foundation focuses on supporting research into neuro-prosthetics, and also neuroscience research, marine conservation, and supporting local communities.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Country: France Company: L’Oréal Net Worth: $8.1 Billion.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the chairwoman of the cosmetics conglomerate L’Oréal. The company was founded by her mother, Liliana Bettencourt. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers does not limit herself to just being a businesswoman and billionaire, she is also an author and advocates for promoting lasting Jewish-Christian relationships.
![Françoise Bettencourt Meyers Françoise Bettencourt Meyers | Getty Images Photo by Pierre Suu/GC Images](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_f3fdfdd31d489f069bcb7d25cd19b25d/GettyImages-506965004-Franoise-Bettencourt-Meyers-e1714555602550.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Meyers married Jean-Pierre Meyers, a Jewish man whose grandfather lost his life during WWII. The pair decided to raise their children as Jewish. She is the author of a number of books about the bible and does charitable work aimed at fostering good religious relationships between Jews and Christians.
Nicole Kidman
Country: Australia, USA Company: Blossom Films Net Worth: $250 Million.
It seems like the famous actress and producer is always starring in a hit film or television show, so it’s no wonder that she has the fortune to prove it. Kidman is known for her amazing performances in films like "The Hours," "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Moulin Rouge." What you may not know is that the actress also started her own production company, Blossom Films, in order to shape her career.
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She is also known for using her position to fight for gender equality in and out of the movie business. She announced last year that she would reserve time in her schedule to only work with female directors as part of her bid to get more women behind the camera. To this date, Kidman’s films have brought in over $5 billion worldwide.
Randa Duncan Williams
Country: USA Company: Enterprise Products Partners Net Worth: $6.9 Billion.
Williams worked as a lawyer for several big firms in her hometown. She is currently the CEO of Enterprise Products after serving as vice president of the company from 1994 to 2001. Enterprise Products was founded by her father, Dan Duncan, who left it to her when he died. Management of the company is still in the family, with control held by Randa and her siblings.
![Randa Duncan Williams Randa Duncan Williams | Getty Images Photo by Bob Levey U.S. Fund for UNICEF](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_a9bdd1ecc9323d4e7eb4f74a26c268ea/GettyImages-457234318-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-CharlesWilliamsandRandaWilliams.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714555711643.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Randa is also involved in charity work. She is on the board of numerous organizations, such as the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Manned Space Flight Foundation. She is also involved with Houston’s A+ Challenge to improve public education in the city.
Doris Fisher
Country: USA Company: The Gap Net Worth: $2.5 Billion.
In 1969, a husband and wife team of entrepreneurs who were looking for their next big idea decided to take a chance and open a small clothing store. They called in every favor they could and managed to raise the necessary $63,000 to open their first store, which they called The Gap after Doris vetoed her husband’s suggestion which was “Pants and Discs.”
![Doris Fisher Doris Fisher | Alamy Stock Photo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_b068797fafd89b27053b8c566e7871e7/2CXXHJF-TheRichestWomenintheWorldin2019-DorisFisher.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The Gap’s incredible success made Doris and Don Fisher billionaires. When Don died, Doris inherited all of his shares from the company. She served on the board until 2009 and is still involved in the business to this day. Although now, most of her time is spent on charitable endeavors.
Laiwa Chan
Country: China Company: Fu Wah International Group Net Worth: $4.3 Billion.
Laiwa Chan is one of China’s wealthiest, most inspiring women. Born in the Summer Palace in Beijing to a royal Manchu family, when the Manchu Qing dynasty collapsed, her family was left in poverty. Chan was forced to drop out of high school and work as a furniture repairwoman. She used her meager earnings to open her own small furniture business in Hong Kong. It was a huge success.
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After her most profitable year, she purchased twelve villas with her earnings, which were the first properties in her real estate empire. Chan is currently the chairwoman of the Fuwah International Group. The company is mainly focused on real estate but has also expanded into many other sectors.
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken
Country: UK Company: Heineken Net Worth: $14.3 Billion.
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is a Dutch-English businesswoman. She attended Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar and received her law degree from the University of Leiden. Carvalho-Heineken owns a controlling stake of 25% in the brewery company Heineken International. This Dutch company is the second-largest brewing company in the world (and we are all familiar with their brand and commercials).
![Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken | Getty Images Photo by David M. Benett/Mulberry](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_5011d628f6c57e3ccc3ee70403db1326/GettyImages-457270210-Charlene-de-Carvalho-Heineken.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Carvalho-Heineken‘s better half, Michel de Carvalho, is an established financier. He serves as the director of Citigroup, a well-known financial institution. The two met on a ski trip to Switzerland and tied the knot shortly after. Taking their already impressive net worth and bringing it into the even higher billions.
Abigail Johnson
Country: USA Company: Fidelity Investments Net Worth: $22.1 Billion.
Johnson currently serves as the CEO and chairwoman of Fidelity Investments, a financial powerhouse firm, and is also chair of their international business, Fidelity International. Johnson got her humble start at Fidelity as a portfolio manager and analyst. She started at the firm after completing her MBA at Harvard Business School.
![Abigail Johnson Abigail Johnson | Getty Images Photo by Essdras M Suarez/The Boston Globe](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_7c7e7b332b6af122e518e014c065e838/GettyImages-143349700-Abigail-Johnson.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The company was founded by her grandfather in the 1940s and has remained a family business, with Johnson becoming its president in 2012. According to Forbes magazine, Abigail Johnson was recently ranked as the fifth-most powerful woman in the world.
Pansy Ho
Country: Hong Kong Company: MGM China Net Worth: $3.8 Billion.
Pansy Ho holds both Chinese (from Hong Kong) and Canadian nationalities. She attended an all-girls high school in Palo Alto, California, and then went on to Santa Clara University, where she studied marketing and business. She is the daughter of businessman Stanley Ho and got her start in the gaming and entertainment industries.
![Pansy Ho Pansy Ho | Getty Images Photo by Visual China Group](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_db40ab998f2db9cd1d258eba6dde02f0/GettyImages-1138364508-Pansy-Ho.jpg.pro-cmg-scaled-e1714556142890.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Her next career move was to establish her own PR firm. She has close ties to the MGM Grand Casino and the MGM Mirage. She is also the chairwoman of the Business Association of French Macau. Pansy Ho has received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island.
Sandra Ortega Mera
Country: Spain Company: Inditex Net Worth: $6.7 Billion.
Spanish businesswoman Sandra Ortega Mera is a billionaire and the richest woman in Spain. Her father, Amancio Ortega Gaeona, founded Inditex, a fashion retail empire. Mera attended the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, and after her mother passed away, she inherited a 7% stake in the company. Inditex is one of the leading fashion retailers in the entire world.
![Sandra Ortega Mera Sandra Ortega Mera | Getty Images Photo by Xurxo Lobato](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_c53eed3f0a162662541c1d757fd1342d/GettyImages-176964171-Sandra-Ortega-Mera-e1714555960965.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Pablo Isla, the company’s CEO, was appointed in 2011. Inditex maintains over seven thousand stores all over the world and operates in ninety-three different countries. Its subsidiaries include famous brands such as Zara, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, and others, bringing in over $26 billion annually.
Kirsten Rausing
Country: Sweden Company: Tetra Laval Net Worth: $9.1 Billion.
Kristen Rausing is the granddaughter of Ruben Rausing, the founder of liquid food packaging giant Tetra Pak. The company was quite successful and was given by Rausing to two of his sons. In the 1990s, Kirsten’s father bought out his brother’s half, which made Kirsten the company’s sole owner after her father’s death.
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Kirsten sits on the board of Tetra Pak but also enjoys breeding and racing horses. She currently lives in the UK and keeps her own stud farm there. Rausing used to serve as the director of National Stud but has since resigned and currently spends much of her time as one of the directors of the British Bloodstock Agency.
Jacqueline Mars
Country: USA Company: Mars, Inc. Net Worth: $38.6 Billion.
Jacqueline Mars owns the controlling interest in Mars. Inc, the makers of M&M's, Skittles, and many other treats. The Mars candy empire was founded by her grandfather, Frank C. Mars, in 1911. Jacqueline Mars joined the family business in 1982. She played an active role in the company until 2001 but remains on the board to this day.
![Jacqueline Mars Jacqueline Mars | Getty Images Photo by Ron Sachs - Pool](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/618480/rid_8f97eb54ef6bb3674dc3a9b8496b9f73/GettyImages-627487188-Jacqueline-Mars-e1714556057403.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
She is also a devoted philanthropist, donating large sums to worthy causes. Mars serves as a trustee to the US Equestrian Team and is the owner of Land Trust of Virginia, a protected working organic farm. She is also on the board of directors for the Washington National Opera and the National Sporting Library and has donated to the League of Conservation Voters.