1. Alice Walton – America’s Retail Heiress & World’s Richest Woman
Alice Walton stands at the top of the world’s richest women list in 2025 and 2026, with her net worth estimated well above $115 billion as Walmart’s influence and stock performance continued to grow.
Alice was born in 1949 in Arkansas as the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and is the only daughter among the Walton siblings. Her wealth comes almost entirely from her inherited stake in Walmart, the global retail giant, a position that has allowed her to remain at or near the very top of billionaire rankings for several years.
Unlike many heirs, she has channeled much of her influence into arts and philanthropy rather than direct corporate management. In 2011 she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, which hosts major exhibitions and cultural programs.
Her charitable focus expanded in healthcare when she invested heavily in establishing the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, a major project that signifies her commitment to rural and holistic health education.
Walton’s vast riches and her legacy make her not only a leading figure in global wealth but also one of the most influential women in cultural philanthropy today.
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family – France’s Cosmetics Heiress
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, born in 1953, is the granddaughter of L’Oréal’s founder and, for many years, the richest or second-richest woman globally with a fortune often reported near $90–$99 billion.
Her wealth stems from her large ownership stake in L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company. L’Oréal’s global footprint across skincare, makeup, and luxury beauty products has ensured the family’s fortune remains extremely high and often moves with global market trends.
Bettencourt Meyers served as vice chair of the company and has been influential in guiding the family’s holdings through their family investment arm, Téthys Invest.
She is also an author and philanthropist, supporting cultural initiatives and education in France, and her family has historically contributed significant funds to restore Notre‑Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
Even after reducing her role on L’Oréal’s board, her wealth remains vast due to the firm’s stock performance and global market reach, keeping her among the richest women on the planet into 2026.
3. Julia Koch & Family – Industrial Empire Heiress
Julia Koch inherited her massive stake in Koch Industries—one of the largest private U.S. companies—from her late husband David Koch. Her net worth has hovered around $75–$80 billion in recent rankings.
Koch Industries is a sprawling conglomerate involved in energy, chemicals, paper products, and more, employing hundreds of thousands worldwide. While Julia does not run the company day‑to‑day, her ownership stake secures her place among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
She also leads the David H. Koch Foundation, which focuses on philanthropy in medicine, education, and the arts. A significant part of her public profile involves philanthropy, including major gifts to health and science institutions.
Julia Koch’s place in the top tiers of the global wealth rankings highlights how legacy and private industry stakes continue to shape the composition of the world’s richest women.
4. Jacqueline Mars – Candy & Consumer Goods Heiress
Jacqueline Mars is a major heir to Mars, Incorporated, the private global food company behind M&M’s, Snickers, and pet‑care brands such as Pedigree and Whiskas. Her net worth is often estimated around $40 billion or more.
Though she retired from day‑to‑day operations in 2016, her family’s products remain a staple of consumer markets worldwide, giving her wealth a stable foundation tied to global consumption patterns.
Mars is also heavily involved in philanthropy, supporting education and cultural initiatives. Her presence in the wealth rankings reflects how long‑standing family businesses still produce vast personal fortunes.
Her long tenure on the Mars board and contributions to expanding the company’s global reach ensure her legacy beyond simple inheritance.
5. Rafaela Aponte‑Diamant – Shipping Magnate & Self‑Made Billionaire
Rafaela Aponte‑Diamant represents one of the world’s wealthiest self‑made women, with a fortune often cited above $35 billion. She co‑founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) with her husband, a global leader in freight, logistics, and cruise markets.
Aponte‑Diamant built MSC from a single‑ship operation into the world’s largest container shipping line, capitalizing on globalization and the expansion of maritime trade.
Her role in strategic growth has been central, with MSC’s operations spanning global logistics networks that serve as the backbone of modern commerce.
As one of the few self‑made female billionaires among the richest, she stands out in a list dominated by legacy wealth, showing that female leadership in global commerce continues to expand.
6. Savitri Jindal & Family – India’s Industrial Powerhouse Heiress
Savitri Jindal is the richest woman in India and one of the top global female billionaires, with net worth estimates frequently around $35–$40 billion. Her wealth comes from the Jindal Group, an industrial conglomerate spanning steel, power, cement, and infrastructure.
She inherited leadership and ownership after the death of her husband, industrialist Om Prakash Jindal, and now chairs the family’s business interests, which are major players in India’s industrial sector.
Her place among the world’s richest underscores how emerging markets like India are contributing significant female wealth, especially through family‑controlled enterprises with global reach.
Jindal is also involved in philanthropy and politics, expanding her influence beyond business into social and civic engagement in India.
7. Abigail Johnson – Finance Powerhouse CEO
Abigail Johnson is the granddaughter of the founder of Fidelity Investments and serves as its CEO and chair, with a net worth often reported around $30–$35 billion.
Under her leadership, Fidelity has remained one of the largest asset managers in the world, overseeing trillions in investments and retirement assets for clients globally.
Johnson’s wealth is predominantly tied to her Fidelity holdings and her executive role in shaping its strategic growth. She stands out on the list as a wealth holder whose fortune is closely linked to her active leadership rather than simply inheritance.
Her long tenure at Fidelity has positioned her as one of the most influential women in finance today.
8. Miriam Adelson & Family – Casinos & Resorts Heiress
Miriam Adelson inherited her wealth from the late Sheldon Adelson, building a fortune often valued near $30–$38 billion through ownership stakes in Las Vegas Sands, one of the largest global casino and resort companies.
Under her control, Sands has expanded its footprint in Asia and the U.S., and she has significant philanthropic activity focused on medical research and Jewish causes.
Adelson’s position on the list highlights how entertainment and hospitality sectors continue to generate substantial personal wealth.
9. Marilyn Simons & Family – Hedge Funds & Investments Heiress
Marilyn Simons holds a multibillion‑dollar fortune, frequently cited above $30 billion, stemming from her late husband Jim Simons, founder of Renaissance Technologies, one of the most successful quantitative hedge funds in the world.
Simons’ wealth reflects the explosive growth of quantitative finance, where data, algorithms, and computing have reshaped investment returns.
Her role now involves managing family assets and continuing philanthropic initiatives in science and education, reflecting a blend of financial achievement and social contribution.
10. MacKenzie Scott – Philanthropist & Former Tech Heiress
MacKenzie Scott, formerly married to Jeff Bezos, gained her fortune through a settlement that included Amazon stock, with net worth figures around $30–$40 billion.
Rather than focusing on personal luxury, Scott has become famous for her unconventional philanthropy, giving away tens of billions in recent years to nonprofits focused on racial equity, public health, and economic opportunity.
Her approach – fast, unrestricted giving to organizations doing impactful work has reshaped modern philanthropic norms, making her one of the most influential charitable actors of her era.
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