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    The 20 Richest Women in the World

    Press RoomBy No Comments7 Mins Read

    Whether they’re founders or heiresses to some of the world’s biggest companies, most of the world’s richest women saw their wealth grow over the past year.

    The sources of their fortunes span a range of industries, from cosmetics to building supplies, and most of the top 20 hail from the US.

    This ranking and additional information were compiled from Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List. It shows a snapshot of wealth from March 1, 2026. Women comprised 14% of the Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List.

    Forbes estimates net worth using assets such as stakes in public and private companies, real estate, and other holdings; it also accounts for factors including debt and charitable giving.

    In some cases, Forbes also counts wealth held by a founder or heir’s immediate family, identifying those entries with “& family.”

    “Source” refers to the main source of the individual’s wealth. “World rank” refers to each woman’s placement on the 2006 World’s Billionaires List.

    With a combined wealth of $886 billion, including that of some immediate family members, here are the 20 richest women in the world:

    20. Diane Hendricks — $22.3 billion


    Diane Hendricks.

    Diane Hendricks is the chair of ABC Supply.

    PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

    Source: Building supplies

    Country: US

    World rank: 113

    Diane Hendricks, 79, cofounded ABC Supply in 1982 with her husband. After the death of Ken Hendricks in 2007, she has been the chair of ABC Supply and has led the company on its two biggest acquisitions.

    19. Christy Walton — $24.3 billion


    Christy Walton smiles in a light green dress at an indoor event with patterned carpet and warm lighting.

    Christy Walton was married to Walmart heir John Walton.

    Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

    Source: Walmart

    Country: US

    World rank: 106

    Christy Walton, 77, inherited a stake in Walmart after her husband, John Walton, died in 2005. She also inherited about one-sixth of his estate.

    18. Gina Rinehart — $25.5 billion


    Gina Rinehart against a patterned backdrop and the central person draped in white.

    Gina Rinehart made her fortune from mining.

    Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

    Source: Mining

    Country: Australia

    World rank: 101

    Gina Rinehart, 72, rebuilt her father’s financially distressed company, Hancock Prospecting, following his death. Since 1992, she has been the executive chair of Hancock, whose biggest asset is an iron ore mining project.

    17. Vicky Safra & family — $27.1 billion


    Illuminated J. SAFRA SARASIN sign on a dark building facade against a blue evening sky.

    J. Safra Sarasin, part of the J. Safra Group conglomerate.

    FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

    Source: Banking

    Country: Greece

    World rank: 94

    Vicky Safra, 74, inherited her fortune, along with her children, from her late husband, Joseph Safra. The family’s financial empire includes J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland, Safra National Bank of New York, and Banco Safra in Brazil.

    16. MacKenzie Scott — $28.6 billion


    MacKenzie Scott

    MacKenzie Scott gained a stake in Amazon following her divorce.

    Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

    Source: Amazon

    Country: US

    World rank: 84

    MacKenzie Scott, 56, gained a 4% stake in Amazon following her divorce from founder Jeff Bezos. An author and philanthropist, Scott shares details of her donations on the website Yield Giving.

    15. Susanne Klatten — $29.7 billion


    Susanne Klatten in a bright blue blazer holds papers in a softly lit indoor setting.

    Susanne Klatten is an heiress and businesswoman.

    Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images

    Source: BMW, pharmaceuticals

    Country: Germany

    World rank: 79

    Susanne Klatten, 64, owns about 19% of BMW, which she inherited from her parents. Klatten is the sole owner and deputy chair of Altana, a global specialty chemicals company.

    14. Lyndal Stephens Greth & family — $30 billion


    Five formally dressed people stand smiling in a bright hallway beside a teal wall.

    Lyndal Stephens Greth’s fortune comes from oil and gas.

    Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images

    Source: Oil and gas

    Country: US

    World rank: 77

    Lyndal Stephens Greth, 51, became chair of Endeavor Energy Resources after her father, who founded the firm, died. Endeavor, an oil and gas exploration and production company, was acquired by Diamondback in 2024.

    13. Melinda French Gates — $30.3 billion


    Melinda French Gates sits in an orange chair beside a studio microphone during an interview or podcast recording.

    Melinda French Gates is one of the world’s most famous philanthropists.

    Bloomberg/Getty Images

    Source: Microsoft

    Country: US

    World rank: 74

    Melinda French Gates, 62, is the founder of Pivotal and former cochair of the Gates Foundation. She spent the first decade of her career at Microsoft and is known for her philanthropy.

    12. Elaine Marshall & family — $30.9 billion


    A smartphone displays the KOCH™ logo against a blue and red streaked light background.

    Elaine Marshall owns a stake in Koch Inc.

    Illustration by Timon Schneider/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Source: Koch Inc.

    Country: US

    World rank: 71

    Elaine Marshall, 84, and her two sons inherited an estimated 16% stake in Koch Inc. from her late husband.

    E. Pierce Marshall’s father, J. Howard Marshall II was an early partner of Fred Koch.

    11. Marilyn Simons & family — $32.5 billion


    Marilyn Simons smiles while speaking at a podium with teleprompters in an ornate, warmly lit interior.

    Marilyn Simons’ late husband founded one of the world’s most successful hedge fund firms.

    Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Friends of IHES

    Source: Hedge funds

    Country: US

    World rank: 66

    Marilyn Simons, 75, is the widow of Jim Simons, who founded hedge fund firm Renaissance Technologies. She is the cofounder and chair of the Simons Foundation, which funds research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

    10. Zheng Shuliang & family — $33.2 billion


    China Hongqiao Group Limited logo appears on a smartphone screen against a blue financial chart background.

    Zheng Shuliang was vice chair of China Hongqiao Group until recently.

    Illustration by Timon Schneider/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Source: Aluminum products

    Country: China

    World rank: 63

    Zheng Shuliang, 80, was vice chair of one of China’s largest aluminum producers, China Hongqiao Group, until May 2026. Her late husband, Zhang Shiping, founded the company.

    9. Abigail Johnson — $33.2 billion


    Abigail Johnson

    Abigail Johnson is CEO and chair of Fidelity.

    Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Source: Fidelity

    Country: US

    World rank: 63

    Abigail Johnson, 64, is the chair and CEO of Fidelity Investments, which was founded by her grandfather in 1946. Johnson took over from her father as CEO in 2014.

    8. Miriam Adelson & family — $37.5 billion


    Miriam Adelson with long white hair, pink glasses, and a white jacket gives a thumbs-up among suited attendees.

    Miriam Adelson and her family own over half of Las Vegas Sands.

    Julia Demaree Nikhinson – Pool/Getty Images

    Source: Casinos

    Country: US

    World rank: 56

    Miriam Adelson, 80, and her family own over half of the casino company Las Vegas Sands. Her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, was the founder and former CEO of the company. Adelson acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023.

    7. Savitri Jindal & family — $39.1 billion


    Person seated at an office desk beside an Indian national flag, with glasses and a notebook in the foreground.

    Savitri Jindal is the chair of O.P Jindal Group.

    Rajkumar/Mint via Getty Images

    Source: Steel

    Country: India

    World rank: 51

    Savitri Jindal, 76, is the chair of O.P. Jindal Group, a conglomerate with business interests spanning steel and power. The group’s businesses are independently run by her four sons after the death of Jindal’s husband in 2005,

    6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant — $44.5 billion


    Rafaela Aponte-Diamant stands beside a large cruise ship during a dockside event.

    Rafaela Aponte-Diamant owns a 50% stake in MSC.

    FRANK PERRY/AFP via Getty Images

    Source: Shipping

    Country: Switzerland

    World rank: 44

    Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, 81, owns half of MSC, one of the world’s largest global shipping and logistics companies. Aponte-Diamant and her husband joined the industry together in 1970.

    5. Jacqueline Mars — $49.1 billion


    Two attendees pose on a purple Shakespeare Theatre Company backdrop, one holding a black handbag and cane.

    Jacqueline Mars is an heiress to the Mars family fortune.

    Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Shakespeare Theatre Company

    Source: Candy, pet food

    Country: US

    World rank: 38

    Jacqueline Mars, 86, is the granddaughter of Franklin Clarence Mars, who founded the confectionery, food, and pet care manufacturer Mars. She owns an estimated one-third of the company.

    4. Iris Fontbona & family — $52.6 billion


    Copper-toned sign displays the Antofagasta Minerals logo and name against a dark background.

    Iris Fontbana and her family control Antofagasta Plc.

    Bloomberg/Getty Images

    Source: Mining

    Country: Chile

    World rank: 35

    Iris Fontbona, 83, and her children control Antofagasta Plc, a Chile-based, London-listed copper mining company. When her husband, Andrónico Luksic, died in 2005, she and his heirs inherited his businesses.

    3. Julia Koch & family — $81.2 billion


    Julia Koch poses in a black sleeveless dress and heels before a green hedge backdrop.

    Julia Koch is one of the richest women in the world.

    Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    Source: Koch, Inc.

    Country: US

    World rank: 24

    Julia Koch, 64, and her children inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. after her husband’s death in 2019. Koch is one of the world’s largest privately held companies and operates across a range of industries, from energy to healthcare.

    2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family — $100 billion


    Two suited attendees stand beside an Institut de l'Audition wall plaque with partner organization names.

    Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the heiress of L’Oreal.

    Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images For Institut de l’Audition

    Source: L’Oréal

    Country: France

    World rank: 20

    As the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, 73, is a philanthropist and the reigning heiress of the world’s largest cosmetics company. Bettencourt Meyers and her immediate family hold a stake of more than one-third in L’Oréal.

    1. Alice Walton — $134 billion


    Alice Walton smiles while speaking at a clear podium on a stage with a leafy projected backdrop.

    Alice Walton is the richest woman in the world.

    Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust

    Source: Walmart

    Country: US

    World rank: 14

    Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is the richest woman in the world. Since last year, her wealth has increased by $12 billion after a jump in Walmart’s stock, Forbes reported.

    Walton is an arts patron and philanthropist, and has not taken an active role in the family-owned business.

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