Despite making up just over 13% of the world’s billionaires, women are wealthier than ever before, with a combined worth of nearly $1.8 trillion. The world’s richest woman, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, saw her fortune increase by $19 billion in the past year, putting her net worth at $99.5 billion. However, she fell just short of becoming the first woman to join the $100 billion club. For more than two decades, a Bettencourt or a Walton heiress has held the top spot among all women on the list.
Nine of the top 10 richest women inherited their wealth, with MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, being the only self-made woman in the top 10. Scott, who is worth $35.6 billion, has been very generous with her wealth, donating a total of $17.3 billion to various nonprofits. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, cofounder of one of the largest shipping companies in the world, is the seventh richest woman on the list and the only self-made woman in the top 10. Abigail Johnson, the CEO of Fidelity Investments, is the richest woman who inherited and is growing her company, coming in at number 10 on the list.
There are 46 new women who earned a spot on the 2024 list, with some benefiting from stock rallies and others inheriting wealth. Notable newcomers include tech sector leaders Michelle Zatlyn, cofounder of cybersecurity company Cloudflare, and Lisa Su, head of semiconductor firm Advanced Micro Devices. Pop star Taylor Swift also made her debut on the list, becoming the first billionaire musician solely from performances, recordings, and her music catalog.
The top 10 richest women in the world include a mix of inherited and self-made wealth. Abigail Johnson, the CEO of Fidelity Investments, sits at number 10 with a net worth of $29 billion. Gina Rinehart, an Australian magnate in mining and agriculture, is at number 9 with a net worth of $30.8 billion. Miriam Adelson and her family, who own a large stake in Las Vegas Sands, come in at number 8 with a net worth of $32 billion. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, cofounder of MSC, the world’s largest shipping line, is the seventh richest woman with a net worth of $33.1 billion. Savitri Jindal, the chair of Jindal Group in India, is the sixth richest woman with a net worth of $33.5 billion.
MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, is the fifth richest woman in the world with a net worth of $35.6 billion, despite giving away a significant portion of her wealth to charity. Jacqueline Mars, owner of Mars Inc., comes in at number 4 with a net worth of $38.5 billion. Julia Koch and her family, who own a significant stake in Koch Industries, are the third richest women with a net worth of $64.3 billion. Alice Walton, the heiress to the Walmart fortune, is the second richest woman with a net worth of $72.3 billion. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of the L’Oréal founder, remains the richest woman in the world for the fourth consecutive year with a net worth of $99.5 billion.
