Who is the richest woman in the world? There are 1,826 billionaires in the world, according to Forbes, and just 197 are women. This represents about 11% of the total which is a nice improvement from the previous ranking.
With a combined wealth of over $930 billion, the world’s richest females are making their mark on the global economy, and their fortunes are only expected to improve in the future.
That said, we present to you the list of the Top 20 Richest Women in the World:
1) Christy Walton (United States)
Christy Walton who inherited a stake in retailer Wal-Mart, retains the title of world’s richest woman. The widow of John Walton has held that spot for five out of the past six years. FORBES pegs her net worth at $41.7 billion, up from $36.7 billion a year ago. She is the richest woman in North America.
2) Liliane Bettencourt (France)
The principal heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics fortune, is the second richest woman, the same rank she held a year ago. Bettencourt, 92, is worth an estimated $40.1 billion; she’s not involved in running the company her father founded. Her grandson Jean-Victor Meyers replaced her on the board in 2012. A trial of ten people who allegedly stole hundreds of millions of euros from Bettencourt began in January.
Liliane Bettencourt is the richest woman in europe.
3) Alice Walton
Alice Walton is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and sister-in-law to Christy Walton. She’s used some of her $39.4 billion fortune to purchase art, and in 2011 opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
4) Jacqueline Mars (United States)
Jacqueline Mars is an American heir, the daughter of Forrest Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated. Net Worth: $26.6 billion.
5) Maria Franca Fissolo (Italy)
One newcomer to the ranks of the richest women is Maria Franca Fissolo, the widow of Italian candy-and-Nutella tycoon Michele Ferrero, who died in February. Fissolo and her son Giovanni Ferrero, the Chief Executive of Ferrero Group, the sweets company, are inheriting one of the world’s largest candy fortunes, encompassing Kinder chocolates, Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Tic Tac mints, among other brands. FORBES estimates that Fissolo and her son are worth $23.4 billion. She is the fifth richest woman on the list.
6) Laurene Powell Jobs (United States)
The sixth richest women is a notable name in Silicon Valley and education circles: Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. Worth an estimated $19.5 billion, she is focused on social reform through a group she started called the Emerson Collective and, through College Track, helping students finish college.
7) Anne Cox Chambers (United States)
Anne Beau Cox Chambers is an American media proprietor, who has a stake of interest in Cox Enterprises, a privately held media empire that includes newspapers, television, radio, cable television, and other businesses. Net Worth: $17 billion.
8) Susanne Klatten (Germany)
Susanne Klatten is the daughter of Herbert and Johanna Quandt. As of March, 2014, her net worth is US$17.4 billion, and she is the richest woman in Germany. 2015 Net Worth: $16.8 billion.
9) Johanna Quandt (Germany)
Johanna Quandt is the German widow of industrialist Herbert Quandt, who resurrected BMW from bankruptcy. As a result, she is the 8th richest person of Germany. Net Worth: $13.9 billion
10) Iris Fontbona (Chile)
Iris Fontbona is a Chilean billionaire businesswoman, the widow of Andrónico Luksic Abaroa, from inheriting Antofagasta PLC. She lives in Santiago, Chile. Net Worth: $13.5 billion.
11) Abigail Johnson (United States)
Abigail Pierrepont “Abby” Johnson is an American businesswoman. Since 2014, Johnson is President and Chief Executive Officer of US investment firm Fidelity Investments, and chairman of its international sister company Fidelity Worldwide Investment. Net Worth: $13.4 billion.
12) Gina Rinehart (Australia)
Georgina Hope “Gina” Rinehart is an Australian mining heiress and Chairman of Hancock Prospecting group. She is the daughter of Lang Hancock and Hope Margaret Nicholas. Net Worth: $12.3 billion.
13) Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken (Netherlands)
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is the owner of a controlling interest in the world’s third-largest brewer, Heineken International. She is one of Britain’s richest women, with a net worth of $11.6 billion according to Forbes.
14) Massimiliana Landini Aleotti (Italy)
Inherited pharmaceutical giant Menarini from her late husband, Alberto Aleotti. Net Worth: $10.4 billion.
15) Carrie Perrodo (France)
Carrie Perrodo is a Singapore-born French businesswoman and former model. She is owner of the oil group Perenco, which she co-founded with her husband Hubert. Net Worth: $8.8 billion.
16) Blair Parry-Okeden (United States)
Blair Parry-Okeden is an American billionaire heiress. Net Worth: $8.5 billion.
17) Margarita Louis-Dreyfus (Switzerland)
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus is a Russian-born French billionaire businesswoman, Chairman of Louis Dreyfus. Net Worth: $8.4 billion.
18) Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler (Germany)
Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is one of the owners of Schaeffler Group, one of the world’s largest producers of roller bearings. The other owner is her son Georg F. W. Schaeffler. Net Worth: $6.7 billion.
19) Eva Gonda de Rivera (Mexico)
Eva Gonda de Rivera is a Mexican businesswoman. She, along with her daughters, owns a major stake in the FEMSA beverage corporation, which operates convenience stores and bottling plants across Mexico and Latin America. Net Worth: $6.7 billion.
20) Sandra Ortega Mera (Spain)
Sandra Ortega Mera is a Spanish billionaire. Sandra Ortega Mera is the daughter of Amancio Ortega Gaona, the world’s 4th wealthiest person, and Rosalía Mera. Net Worh: $6.3 billion.
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