Forbes - The Richest Women In The World 2025 I Forbes
The number of women on Forbes's World's Billionaires list has increased slightly, with women now making up 13.4% of the list. Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, is the richest woman with an estimated net worth of $11 billion, surpassing Francoise Bettencourt Meyers of L'Oreal. Bettencourt Meyers was the first woman to reach a net worth of $100 billion. Most of the wealthiest women inherited their fortunes, with Raphaela Aponte-Diamont being the richest self-made woman, co-founding the world's largest shipping line. Other notable self-made women include Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift, whose net worth increased significantly due to her successful tour. Changes in the top 10 include Melinda French Gates and newcomer Marilyn Simons replacing Gina Rinehart and MacKenzie Scott due to changes in net worth and philanthropic donations.
Key Points:
- Women now make up 13.4% of Forbes's World's Billionaires list, a slight increase from 13.3%.
- Alice Walton is the richest woman with a net worth of $11 billion, surpassing Francoise Bettencourt Meyers.
- Raphaela Aponte-Diamont is the wealthiest self-made woman, with a net worth of $37.7 billion.
- Taylor Swift's net worth rose by 45% due to her record-breaking tour.
- Melinda French Gates and Marilyn Simons entered the top 10, replacing Gina Rinehart and MacKenzie Scott.
Details:
1. 📉 Underrepresentation of Women Among Billionaires
- Women constitute only 13.4% of Forbes's World's billionaires list, a slight increase from 13.3% previously, indicating a slow pace of change in gender representation.
- There are 406 women among the world's 3,328 billionaires, highlighting a significant gender disparity.
- The growth in the number of women billionaires is minimal, suggesting the need for more robust measures to address gender inequality in wealth distribution.
2. 👑 Top Female Billionaires: Alice Walton & Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
- Alice Walton is the richest woman in 2024 with an estimated fortune of $11 billion, primarily derived from her stake in Walmart, the world's largest retailer.
- Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, with a net worth of $81.6 billion, ranks second. Her wealth originates from L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company, founded by her grandfather.
- In June, Bettencourt Meyers became the first woman to reach a net worth of $100 billion, highlighting her significant financial growth.
- Walton and Bettencourt Meyers have been contesting the top spot among female billionaires for the past five years, indicating a dynamic shift in female wealth on a global scale.
3. 📊 Wealth Shifts and Self-Made Successes
- Adit's return to prime spot correlated with a jump in Walmart shares and a drop in L'Oreal shares, indicating a shift in corporate valuation among major companies.
- Julia Koch and Jaclyn Mars remain the third and fourth richest women, showcasing the enduring wealth of industrial and confectionery fortunes.
- A significant insight is that nine out of the ten wealthiest women inherited their fortunes, reflecting a pattern of inherited wealth among the richest women globally.
- Raphaela Aponte-Diamant, as a self-made Swiss co-founder of the world's largest shipping line, stands out with a net worth of $37.7 billion, highlighting the potential for substantial self-made wealth in the logistics industry.
- Raphaela Aponte-Diamant's position as the fifth wealthiest woman overall and one of just 113 self-made women on the global list underscores the rarity and significance of self-made success among the ultra-wealthy.
4. 🌟 Celebrity Wealth Surges: Oprah & Taylor Swift
4.1. Taylor Swift's Financial Growth
4.2. Oprah Winfrey's Wealth Insights
5. 🔄 Evolving Top 10 Female Billionaires
- Gina Reinhardt, an Australian mining magnate, lost her spot among the top 10 female billionaires primarily due to a nearly 5% decrease in net worth, driven by weak iron ore prices, which highlights the impact of fluctuating commodity markets on individual fortunes.
- McKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, also lost her position in the top 10 despite her substantial philanthropic efforts, underscoring how significant charitable donations can affect net worth rankings.
- On the other hand, Melinda French Gates, ex-wife of Bill Gates, has entered the top 10 female billionaires list, reflecting her substantial financial assets post-divorce and continued philanthropic influence.
- Newcomer Marilyn Simons, widow of hedge fund legend Jim Simons, also joins the list, illustrating the wealth transitions following the legacy of successful investment strategies.
6. 🌐 Newcomers to the Billionaires Club
- Pharmaceutical billionaire Martine Rothblatt, founder of United Therapeutics, joined the club. Her company, valued at multi-billion dollars, has made significant advances in biotechnology, particularly in organ manufacturing and lung disease treatments.
- Tatiana Vadina, owner of the billion-dollar Russian cosmetics retailer Lal, is a new member. Lal's strategic expansion in the beauty sector has positioned it as a leader in the market, driving significant revenue growth.