From Shipping Empires to Candy Fortunes: What the 10 Richest Women in the World Actually Do
We love to see women stacking billions, but let’s be real—they’re still wildly underrepresented. According to Forbes, only 13.4% of the world’s 3,028 billionaires are women. That’s 406 women globally. While the gender gap in billionaire status isn’t budging fast, the stories behind these women’s fortunes are a lesson in inheritance, investments, and industries you might not expect (hello, steel?).
Alice Walton Just Reclaimed Her Spot as the Richest Woman in the World
With a net worth of $101 billion as of March 2025, Alice Walton is back on top. The Walmart heiress added $28.7 billion to her fortune thanks to a 40% jump in Walmart shares. According to Forbes, she’s channeled much of her wealth into art curation, founding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. A new medical school bearing her name will also open there this summer.
The Richest Women in the World Still Mostly Inherit Their Fortunes
According to Forbes, nine out of the top ten richest women in the world got their billions from inheritance. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal heiress and former number one, now holds second place with a net worth of $81.6 billion. After a 20% drop in L’Oréal shares, she stepped down as vice chair of the board. Her son is set to replace her.
In third place is Julia Koch, whose net worth rose to $74.2 billion. After the passing of her husband, David Koch, she and her children inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. The company covers everything from oil and agriculture to real estate.
These Industries Made These Women Billions
Casinos, candy, and steel might not scream “billionaire girlboss” to most, but they play a huge role in this year’s list. Miriam Adelson and family, at #8, own more than half of Las Vegas Sands, the casino empire behind resorts like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Mars (#4) inherited Mars Incorporated, home to M&Ms, Snickers, and Pedigree.
India’s Savitri Jindal (#6) controls the Jindal Group—a powerhouse in steel, power, and infrastructure—which she took over after her husband died in a helicopter crash. Her net worth is now $35.5 billion.
The Richest Self-Made Woman? Shipping Tycoon Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Among the inherited fortunes, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant stands out. With a $37.7 billion net worth, she’s the richest self-made woman in the world, per Forbes. Aponte-Diamant cofounded the Mediterranean Shipping Company in 1970 with her husband, whom she met on a boat trip to Capri. Today, they operate a fleet of 900 ships, making MSC the largest shipping line globally.
What the Newcomers on the Forbes List Tell Us
Melinda French Gates (#10) joins the list after Forbes updated her divorce settlement to $25 billion. Her $30.4 billion net worth is now tied to her investments and philanthropic firm, Pivotal Ventures. Marilyn Simons (#9), the widow of hedge fund legend Jim Simons, controls the Simons Foundation and now holds $31 billion.
According to Forbes, the addition of women like Simons and Gates reflects growing female influence in investment, tech, and philanthropy. But the numbers show we still have a long way to go.
