Françoise Bettencourt Meyers retains her title as the world’s richest woman, while India’s Savitri Jindal secures a prominent spot in the top 10 list.
December 24, 2024: In 2024, women continue to make remarkable strides in global wealth rankings, holding significant positions in the Forbes World Billionaires List. With a combined net worth surpassing $1.8 trillion, the world’s 10 richest women have further solidified their influence across industries ranging from cosmetics and retail to steel and shipping.
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At the helm is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal heiress, maintaining her reign as the world’s richest woman with an impressive net worth of $98.2 billion. Following closely are Alice Walton, an heir to Walmart’s fortune, and Julia Koch, who inherited stakes in Koch Industries.
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Key Highlights of the Top 10 Richest Women in 2024:
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers ($98.2 Billion) – L’Oréal
2. Alice Walton ($77.2 Billion) – Walmart Heiress
3. Julia Koch ($66.3 Billion) – Koch Industries (Large interests diverse businesses including refining, chemicals, trading, investments, fibers, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper, and more)
4. Jacqueline Mars ($39.4 Billion) – Mars Inc.
Savitri Jindal: India’s Pride
At rank 5, Savitri Jindal represents India with a net worth of $38 billion. As the matriarch of the JSW Group, she oversees businesses across steel, power, cement, and infrastructure, driving economic growth in India. After her husband’s passing, Savitri Jindal successfully navigated the group’s diversified ventures, establishing herself as India’s wealthiest woman.
6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant ($35.5 Billion) – Mediterranean Shipping Company
7. MacKenzie Scott ($33.7 Billion) – Amazon
Gina Rinehart ($30.8 Billion) – Executive Chair of Hancock Prospecting
Abigail Johnson ($29.7 Billion) – Fidelity Investments
Abigail Pierrepont Johnson, a prominent figure in the finance industry and the granddaughter of Edward C. Johnson II, the originator of Fidelity Investments, has served as Chairman of Fidelity International and President and CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014. She has been instrumental in the company’s growth, overseeing 45,000 employees worldwide.
Miriam Adelson ($29.7 Billion) – Las Vegas Sands
- Miriam Adelson is the widow of Sheldon Adelson, the former CEO and chairman of casino company Las Vegas Sands, who died at 87 in 2021.
- She and her family now own more than half of the New York Stock Exchange-listed gambling empire, which has casinos in Singapore and Macao.
Global Impact and Industry Influence
The list highlights the diverse industries these powerful women represent:
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers: Cosmetics (L’Oréal)
- Alice Walton: Retail (Walmart)
- Rafaela Aponte-Diamant: Shipping (MSC)
- Gina Rinehart: Mining (Hancock Prospecting)
These billionaires not only contribute to economic growth but also actively engage in philanthropy, supporting causes ranging from education and healthcare to environmental conservation.
Future Trends in Women’s Wealth
As women continue to climb the ranks of global billionaires, experts predict that their share in the wealth index will grow further. In 2024, women now represent 13.3% of the total billionaire population, marking an increase from 12.8% in 2023.
With powerful names like Savitri Jindal and Françoise Bettencourt Meyers leading the way, the future of women in global finance looks brighter than ever.
*Please note that the rank and net worth figures provided are subject to routine fluctuations due to changes in stock prices and other market conditions. The net worth details are based on the latest Forbes World’s real-time billionaire data, recorded on May 27th, 2024.*
Tags: Wealth Rankings, Richest Women 2024, Savitri Jindal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, Global Billionaires, Forbes Wealth List, Women Entrepreneurs, Wealth Distribution.