Whether they're founders or heiresses to several of the world's biggest companies, most of the world's richest women saw their wealth grow complete the former year.
The sources of their fortunes extend a range of industries, from cosmetics to construction supplies, and most of the top 20 hail from the US.
This ranking and additional data were compiled from Forbes' World's Billionaires List. It shows a snapshot of prosperity from March 1, 2026. Women comprised 14% of the Forbes' World's Billionaires List.
Forbes estimates net value using resources specified as stakes in community and personal companies, genuine estate, and another holdings; it additionally accounts for factors including debt and charitable giving.
In several cases, Forbes additionally counts prosperity held by a originator or heir's contiguous family, identifying those entries alongside "& family."
"Source" refers to the chief origin of the individual's wealth. "World rank" refers to all woman's placement on the 2006 World's Billionaires List.
With a blended prosperity of $886 billion, including that of several contiguous family members, current are the 20 richest women in the world:
20. Diane Hendricks — $22.3 billion
Source: Building supplies
Country: US
World rank: 113
Diane Hendricks, 79, cofounded ABC Supply in 1982 alongside her husband. After the death of Ken Hendricks in 2007, she has been the place of ABC Supply and has led the business on its two biggest acquisitions.
19. Christy Walton — $24.3 billion
Source: Walmart
Country: US
World rank: 106
Christy Walton, 77, inherited a interest in Walmart following her husband, John Walton, died in 2005. She additionally inherited concerning one-sixth of his estate.
18. Gina Rinehart — $25.5 billion
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 administrator place of Hancock, whose biggest asset is an metal ore mining project.
17. Vicky Safra & family — $27.1 billion
Source: Banking
Country: Greece
World rank: 94
Vicky Safra, 74, inherited her fortune, alongside alongside her children, from her delayed 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
Source: Amazon
Country: US
World rank: 84
MacKenzie Scott, 56, gained a 4% interest in Amazon following her separation from originator Jeff Bezos. An author and philanthropist, Scott shares particulars of her donations on the website Yield Giving.
15. Susanne Klatten — $29.7 billion
Source: BMW, pharmaceuticals
Country: Germany
World rank: 79
Susanne Klatten, 64, owns concerning 19% of BMW, which she inherited from her parents. Klatten is the sole owner and delegate place of Altana, a earth specialty chemicals company.
14. Lyndal Stephens Greth & family — $30 billion
Source: Oil and gas
Country: US
World rank: 77
Lyndal Stephens Greth, 51, became place of Endeavor Energy Resources following her father, who founded the firm, died. Endeavor, an oil and gas exploration and manufacturing company, was acquired by Diamondback in 2024.
13. Melinda French Gates — $30.3 billion
Source: Microsoft
Country: US
World rank: 74
Melinda French Gates, 62, is the originator of Pivotal and erstwhile cochair of the Gates Foundation. She spent the archetypal decade of her occupation at Microsoft and is known for her philanthropy.
12. Elaine Marshall & family — $30.9 billion
Source: Koch Inc.
Country: US
World rank: 71
Elaine Marshall, 84, and her two sons inherited an estimated 16% interest in Koch Inc. from her delayed husband.
E. Pierce Marshall's father, J. Howard Marshall II was an first partner of Fred Koch.
11. Marilyn Simons & family — $32.5 billion
Source: Hedge funds
Country: US
World rank: 66
Marilyn Simons, 75, is the widow of Jim Simons, who founded hedge prosperity resolute Renaissance Technologies. She is the cofounder and place of the Simons Foundation, which finances investigation in math and the essential sciences.
10. Zheng Shuliang & family — $33.2 billion
Source: Aluminum products
Country: China
World rank: 63
Zheng Shuliang, 80, was vice place of one of China's largest aluminum producers, China Hongqiao Group, until May 2026. Her delayed husband, Zhang Shiping, founded the company.
9. Abigail Johnson — $33.2 billion
Source: Fidelity
Country: US
World rank: 63
Abigail Johnson, 64, is the place and CEO of Fidelity Investments, which was founded by her gramps in 1946. Johnson took complete from her begetter as CEO in 2014.
8. Miriam Adelson & family — $37.5 billion
Source: Casinos
Country: US
World rank: 56
Miriam Adelson, 80, and her family own complete fractional of the casino business Las Vegas Sands. Her delayed husband, Sheldon Adelson, was the originator and erstwhile CEO of the company. Adelson acquired a bulk interest in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023.
7. Savitri Jindal & family — $39.1 billion
Source: Steel
Country: India
World rank: 51
Savitri Jindal, 76, is the place of O.P. Jindal Group, a conglomerate alongside endeavor interests spanning alloy and power. The group's businesses are independently run by her four sons following the death of Jindal's hubby in 2005,
6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant — $44.5 billion
Source: Shipping
Country: Switzerland
World rank: 44
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, 81, owns fractional of MSC, among the world's largest earth shipping and logistics companies. Aponte-Diamant and her hubby joined the industry together in 1970.
5. Jacqueline Mars — $49.1 billion
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 attention manufacturer Mars. She owns an estimated one-third of the company.
4. Iris Fontbona & family — $52.6 billion
Source: Mining
Country: Chile
World rank: 35
Iris Fontbona, 83, and her children authority 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
Source: Koch, Inc.
Country: US
World rank: 24
Julia Koch, 64, and her children inherited a 42% interest in Koch, Inc. following her husband's death in 2019. Koch is among the world's largest privately held companies and operates throughout a range of industries, from energy to healthcare.
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family — $100 billion
Source: L'Oréal
Country: France
World rank: 20
As the granddaughter of the originator of L'Oréal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, 73, is a donor and the reigning heiress of the world's largest cosmetics company. Bettencourt Meyers and her contiguous family clasp a interest of additional than one-third in L'Oréal.
1. Alice Walton — $134 billion
Source: Walmart
Country: US
World rank: 14
Alice Walton, the lone female of Walmart originator Sam Walton, is the richest female in the world. Since final year, her wealth has risen by $12 milliard following a jump in Walmart's stock, Forbes reported.
Walton is an arts patron and philanthropist, and has not taken an energetic function in the family-owned business.
