Women remain a minority among the world’s billionaires, but their presence in global wealth rankings continues to grow steadily. According to the latest billionaire rankings by Forbes, 481 of the world’s 3,428 billionaires are women, accounting for roughly 14% of the list.
While many of these fortunes originate from family-owned global businesses, several women have also built billion-dollar empires through entrepreneurship and investments.
Below is a closer look at the world’s richest women in 2026, including their net worth, source of wealth, and key financial insights behind their fortunes.
List of the Top 10 Richest Women in the World (2026)
| Name | Net Worth | Source of Wealth | Country |
| 1. Alice Walton | $134B | Walmart | United States |
| 2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers | $100B | L’Oréal | France |
| 3. Julia Koch | $81.2B | Koch, Inc. | United States |
| 4. Iris Fontbona | $52.6 | Mining (Antofagasta) | Chile |
| 5. Jacqueline Mars | $49.1B | Mars Inc. | United States |
| 6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant | $44.5B | Mediterranean Shipping Company | Switzerland |
| 7. Savitri Jindal | $39.1B | Jindal Group | India |
| 8. Miriam Adelson | $37.5B | Las Vegas Sands | United States |
| 9. Abigail Johnson | $33.2B | Fidelity Investments | United States |
| 10. Zheng Shuliang | $33.2B | China Hongqiao Group | China |
Net worth estimates are as of March 2026, referred from Forbes.
Individual Profiles of the Richest Women in the World
Alice Walton
- Net Worth: $134 billion
- Source of Wealth: Walmart
- Country: United States
Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, ranks as the richest woman of the world for the second consecutive year. Her fortune surged by more than $30 billion in the past year as Walmart shares climbed amid strong earnings and expanding global e-commerce operations.
A proud fact about Walmart is that in February 2026, it reached a $1 trillion market valuation, becoming the first traditional retailer to achieve that level.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
- Net Worth: $100 billion
- Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
- Country: France
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of the founder of the global beauty giant L’Oréal, is the second richest woman in the world. Her wealth is largely tied to the performance of L’Oréal, whose stock gains over the past year significantly boosted the value of her family’s holdings.
As of the end of 2024, Bettencourt Meyers and her family controlled 185,715,079 shares of L’Oréal, representing about34.76% of the company’s capital, making them the largest shareholders in the French beauty conglomerate.
Bettencourt Meyers stepped down from the board of L’Oréal in 2025 after nearly three decades of involvement with the company.
Julia Koch
- Net Worth: $81.2 billion
- Source of Wealth: Koch, Inc.
- Country: United States
Julia Koch inherited a substantial stake in Koch Industries following the death of her husband, industrialist David Koch, in 2019. She and her children own roughly 42% of the conglomerate, one of the largest private companies in the United States.
In recent years, the family has also expanded its investment portfolio beyond industrial operations, like acquiring10% stakes of the NFL’s New York Giants, which valued the team at more than $10 billion.
Julia Koch also serves on the boards of organizations such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Iris Fontbona
- Net Worth: $52.6 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mining
- Country: Chile
Iris Fontbona, the richest person in Chile, inherited her fortune from her late husband Andrónico Luksic, who built a vast business empire spanning mining, banking, and beverages.
A major portion of Iris Fontbona’s wealth comes from 70% stakes inAntofagasta PLC, a London-listed mining company and one of the world’s largest copper producers.
Beyond mining, the family’s business empire extends into several other industries through the publicly traded conglomerate Quinenco.
Through this holding company, they maintain controlling stakes in major businesses, including Banco de Chile, beverage producer Compañía Cervecerías Unidas, shipping firm Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores, and fuel and energy distributor Enex.
Jacqueline Mars
- Net Worth: $49.1 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mars, Incorporated
- Country: United States
Jacqueline Mars is a third-generation heir to the Mars family business and holds about a one-third ownership stake in Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s largest privately owned food companies.
She was actively involved in the company’s operations for almost 20 years and later served on its board of directors before retiring from the position in 2016.
Founded by Frank C. Mars in 1883, Mars produces globally recognized brands including M&M’s and Pringles, and has expanded significantly into pet care products.
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
- Net Worth: $44.5 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mediterranean Shipping Company
- Country: Switzerland
Swiss shipping billionaire Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the only self-made woman among the top ten richest women in the world. She co-founded Mediterranean Shipping Company with her husband, Gianluigi Aponte, after purchasing their first cargo ship with a $200,000 loan.
Today, she owns a 50% stake in MSC, which operates one of the largest shipping fleets in the world and has expanded into logistics, cruise operations, and port infrastructure.
Savitri Jindal
- Net Worth: $39.1 billion
- Source of Wealth: Jindal Group
- Country: India
Savitri Jindal is the richest woman in India and chairperson of the Jindal Group, a large industrial conglomerate founded by her late husband O. P. Jindal. She is the only Asian to make the list of the top 10 world’s richest women.
The Jindal group operates across several sectors, including steel, power, cement, and infrastructure, and is currently run by her four sons.
Miriam Adelson
- Net Worth: $37.5 billion
- Source of Wealth: Las Vegas Sands
- Country: United States
Miriam Adelson inherited her fortune after the death of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who built Las Vegas Sands into one of the largest gaming companies in the world.
Her wealth grew significantly as the Las Vegas Sands’s stock gained momentum in the past year, with a market cap of $36.29 Billion and annual revenueof $11.29 Billion.
Abigail Johnson
- Net Worth: $33.2 billion
- Source of Wealth: Fidelity Investments
- Country: United States
Abigail Johnson serves as chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments, one of the largest asset management firms in the world. The company was founded by her grandfather, Edward C. Johnson II, in 1946.
Under Abigail Johnson’s leadership, Fidelity manages $7.1 trillions in assets for investors worldwide.
Fidelity also oversees a vast pool of client capital, with $18.0 trillion in assets under administration in 2025, representing a 19% increase compared to 2024.
Zheng Shuliang
- Net Worth: $33.2 billion
- Source of Wealth: China Hongqiao Group
- Country: China
Zheng Shuliang is vice chair of China Hongqiao Group, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers. The company was founded by her late husband, Zhang Shiping, and is now led by their son.
Hongqiao generates over $21 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 50,000 workers worldwide.
Interesting Wealth Facts About the World’s Richest Women
Here are several surprising insights about female billionaire wealth worldwide.
Female Billionaires Are Still a Minority
Women represent about 14% of the world’s billionaires, showing that the global wealth gap between genders still exists.
Family Businesses Still Dominate Female Billionaire Wealth
Some of the largest fortunes on the list come from privately held companies, including Koch, Inc. and Mars, Incorporated, which generate billions in revenue but remain family-controlled.
The Richest Woman’s Fortune Rivals Small Economies
The net worth of Alice Walton exceeds $130 billion, a figure comparable to the annual economic output of some smaller nations.
Commodity Booms Can Create Massive Wealth Surges
Iris Fontbona’s fortune rose sharply due to rising copper prices, illustrating how global commodity markets directly influence billionaire fortunes.
Global Shipping Is One of the Most Powerful Industries
The shipping empire built by Rafaela Aponte-Diamant highlights how logistics companies control critical supply chains that move goods across continents.
End Note
While many of today’s largest fortunes were built through family enterprises, an increasing number of women are also building their own billion-dollar companies.
From retail and cosmetics to finance, mining, and global shipping, the industries represented by the world’s richest women highlight how wealth is generated at the highest levels of the global economy.
So, as entrepreneurship, leadership opportunities, and investment participation continue to expand, the number of women among the world’s billionaires is likely to grow in the years ahead.
If you found this guide to the world’s richest women helpful, share it with others who are curious about global billionaires, wealth creation, and influential business leaders!
Maria Isabel Rodrigues
FAQs
- Who is the richest woman in the world in 2026?
The richest woman in the world in 2026 is Alice Walton, heir to the retail giant Walmart, with an estimated net worth of around $134 billion.
- Are most of the richest women self-made?
No. Most of the richest women inherited wealth from family businesses. However, the number of self-made female billionaires is steadily increasing, particularly in industries like technology, finance, and logistics.
- Who is the richest self-made woman among the top ten richest women?
Swiss entrepreneur Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the only self-made billionaire among the top ten richest women in the world, having co-founded the global shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company.
- Who is the youngest, richest woman in the world?
The youngest richest woman in the world is Luana Lopes Lara, a Brazilian entrepreneur and cofounder of the prediction market startup Kalshi. At just 29 years old, she became the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire with an estimated net worth of about $1.3 billion.
