Women make up slightly more than 13% of the global billionaire population and are wealthier than ever before.
The number of women on Forbes’ World Billionaires list is gradually increasing. In the latest update, 369 out of 2,781 billionaires, or 13.3%, are women, up from 337 in 2023, when they represented 12.8% of the list. Collectively, these women possess nearly $1.8 trillion, which is approximately $240 billion more compared to the previous year.
Maintaining her position as the wealthiest woman globally for the fourth consecutive year is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, inheritor of L’Oréal. Meyers saw her fortune soar by $19 billion over the past year, bringing her net worth to $99.5 billion. This substantial increase marks the most significant gain among all women on the 2024 list, though she fell just shy of becoming the first woman to enter the coveted $100 billion club.
For over twenty years, either a Bettencourt or a Walton heiress has held the top position among the wealthiest women. Bettencourt Meyers first claimed the number one spot in 2019, two years after her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, passed away. Liliane had been the richest woman for six of the years between 2006 and 2017. Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and an art enthusiast, is currently the second richest woman in the world. She was the wealthiest woman in both 2018 and 2020. Her sister-in-law, Christy Walton, held the top spot for seven years following the death of her husband, John Walton, in a helicopter crash; eventually, her fortune was divided between her and her son, Lukas.
Out of the ten richest women, nine inherited their wealth from fathers, husbands, or, in one instance, a mother. MacKenzie Scott is the sole exception in the top ten, having acquired her fortune through divorce. The ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, Scott’s net worth stands at $35.6 billion, up by $11.2 billion from the previous year, despite her extensive philanthropic efforts. She recently donated $640 million to over 300 nonprofits, bringing her total lifetime donations to $17.3 billion. Without her generous contributions, her net worth would be $69 billion, placing her as the third richest woman on the list, rather than fifth.
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, cofounder of one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has reclaimed her title as the richest self-made woman on Forbes’ list. She is also the seventh richest woman overall and stands out as the only self-made individual among the top ten wealthiest women. This year, the list includes 100 self-made women, meaning they founded or co-founded their businesses or built their wealth independently, unlike the 200 women who inherited their fortunes and the 69 women who are expanding inherited successful businesses.
Abigail Johnson, the wealthiest woman who inherited and is now growing her company, ranks as the tenth richest woman globally this year, up from eleventh place last year. As the CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014, she has led the company to achieve a record revenue of $28.2 billion in 2023.
This year’s list features 46 new entrants, some benefiting from stock market gains and others through inheritance. The wealthiest newcomers are Swedish sisters Märta Schörling Andreen and Sofia Högberg Schörling. Their father, billionaire investor Melker Schörling, passed away in December 2023, leaving each daughter, aged 39 and 45, with a fortune of $5.6 billion.
Two additional newcomers from the tech industry are Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of the cybersecurity firm Cloudflare, and Lisa Su, CEO of the semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices. Both women saw significant gains due to the rising stock prices of their respective companies over the past year.
The most remarkable newcomer is pop sensation Taylor Swift. Her Eras Tour generated an estimated $190 million after taxes, making her the first billionaire musician whose wealth comes exclusively from performances, recordings, and a highly valuable half-billion dollar music catalog. She achieved billionaire status in October.
List Of Top 10 Richest Women In The World In 2024 With Their Net Worth, Works, and Ventures
| Rank | Richest Women | Net Worth | Source of Wealth |
| 1 | Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family | $99.5 Billion | L’Oréal |
| 2 | Alice Walton | $72.3 Billion | Walmart |
| 3 | Julia Koch & family | $64.3 Billion | Koch Industries |
| 4 | Jacqueline Mars | $38.5 Billion | Candy, pet food |
| 5 | MacKenzie Scott | $35.6 Billion | Amazon |
| 6 | Savitri Jindal & family | $33.5 Billion | Steel |
| 7 | Rafaela Aponte-Diamant | $33.1 Billion | Shipping |
| 8 | Miriam Adelson & family | $32 Billion | Casinos |
| 9 | Gina Rinehart | $30.8 Billion | Mining |
| 10 | Abigail Johnson | $29 Billion | Fidelity Investments |
Here Are The Top 10 Richest Women In The World
1. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family
Net Worth: $99.5 Billion | Age: 70 | Source of Wealth: L’Oréal | Citizenship: France
As the granddaughter of L’Oréal’s founder and the family fortune’s heir, she has held the title of the world’s richest woman for four consecutive years. The bulk of her wealth comes from her nearly 35% stake in the cosmetics giant L’Oréal Group, which boasts $45 billion in revenue and renowned brands like Maybelline, Kiehl’s, and Lancôme. Bettencourt Meyers, who inherited her wealth from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt (d. 2017), first appeared on Forbes’ billionaires list in 2018 with a net worth of $42.2 billion.
2. Alice Walton
Net Worth: $72.3 Billion | Age: 74 | Source of Wealth: Walmart | Citizenship: U.S.
The wealthiest woman in America has seen her fortune grow by $15.6 billion this year, thanks to a 34% rise in Walmart’s stock over the past year. As the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton (d. 1992), she has a unique legacy. Unlike her brothers, she has never served on the company’s board; instead, she has devoted her efforts to the arts. She is renowned for establishing the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, which showcases works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.
3. Julia Koch & family
Net Worth: $64.3 Billion | Age: 61 | Source of Wealth: Koch Industries | Citizenship: U.S.
The widow of David Koch (d. 2019) has dropped from the second to the third richest woman this year. She and her three children inherited a 42% share in Koch Industries, which operates in diverse sectors including oil refining, medical technology, and paper products. She also serves as a trustee for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
4. Jacqueline Mars
Net Worth: $38.5 Billion | Age: 84 | Source of Wealth: Candy, pet food | Citizenship: U.S.
The heir to Mars Inc. shares ownership of the candy and pet food empire with her brother, John Mars, and her late brother Forrest Jr.’s four daughters. Mars Inc. boasts a portfolio of iconic brands, such as M&Ms, Snickers, Ben’s Original, and Pedigree dog food. The company was established by her grandfather, Frank C. Mars, who started selling buttercream candies from his kitchen in 1911. Her son, Stephen Badger, is a member of the company’s board.
5. MacKenzie Scott
Net Worth: $35.6 Billion | Age: 53 | Source of Wealth: Amazon | Citizenship: U.S.
After her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019, the billionaire philanthropist received a 4% stake in Amazon. Shortly thereafter, she committed to donating the majority of her wealth. In March, Scott distributed $640 million to 361 organizations through a competitive funding process. Her total lifetime donations have reached $17.3 billion, comprising numerous unexpected, unrestricted contributions to various recipients.
6. Savitri Jindal & family
Net worth: $33.5 Billion | Age: 74 | Source of Wealth: Steel | Citizenship: India
The richest woman in India is the chair of Jindal Group and the widow of its founder, Om Prakash Jindal, who passed away in 2005. Jindal Group is involved in steel, power, cement, and infrastructure sectors. After O.P. Jindal’s tragic death in a helicopter crash, his four sons inherited and now independently manage the group’s companies. In 2023, Jindal became the 12th wealthiest woman, thanks to the increase in share prices that boosted her fortune.
7. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Net Worth: $33.1 Billion | Age: 79 | Source of Wealth: Shipping | Citizenship: Switzerland and Italy
Aponte-Diamant, alongside her husband Gianluigi Aponte, founded MSC in 1970. Each owning a 50% stake, they built it into the world’s largest shipping line. She oversees the decoration of MSC Cruises’ ships, a role reflecting her creative touch. Their journey began with a $200,000 loan to purchase their first ship, marking the start of their remarkable success story in the industry.
8. Miriam Adelson & family
Net Worth: $32 Billion | Age: 78 | Source of Wealth: Casinos | Citizenship: U.S.
Adelson and her family control a majority stake in Las Vegas Sands, a major player in the global casino industry. She acquired this stake following the passing of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, a prominent figure in the Republican Party, in 2021. A medical professional by trade, she has generously contributed over $1 billion towards medical research and pharmaceutical advancements throughout her life, according to Forbes’ calculations.
9. Gina Rinehart
Net Worth: $30.8 Billion | Age: 70 | Source of Wealth: Mining | Citizenship: Australia
Gina Rinehart, the chairperson of the mining and agriculture conglomerate Hancock Prospecting Group, inherited the company from her father Lang Hancock, who passed away in 1992. Her wealth has increased by 14% since March 2023, maintaining her position as the richest individual in Australia.
10. Abigail Johnson
Net Worth: $29 Billion | Age: 62 | Source of Wealth: Fidelity Investments | Citizenship: U.S.
The leader of Fidelity, a major mutual fund company, bounced back from 11th place to once again make it into the top 10 list of wealthiest women this year. Johnson has served as the CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014, succeeding her father, Edward “Ned” Johnson III (who passed away in 2022). She holds an approximate 28.5% ownership in the company, which oversees $4.9 trillion in managed assets and was established by her grandfather in 1946.