At Luxe Digital, we chase the extraordinary. Our Striking Superlatives series dives headfirst into the world’s rarest, priciest, and most exclusive treasures—spanning art, assets, and empires—and brings you along for the ride. Curiosity, after all, sparks discovery and ignites conversation.
This time, we’re spotlighting the world’s richest women, whose colossal fortunes reshape industries and redefine power. From inherited dynasties to self-forged empires, these women —from philanthropists to innovators—wield wealth as a force for change.
Alice Walton has reclaimed her throne as the world’s wealthiest woman, propelled by Walmart’s skyrocketing stock, overtaking L’Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, whose fortune dipped with the market. Meanwhile, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant commands the seas as the richest self-made female billionaire, steering the world’s largest shipping empire.
Our rankings are meticulously crafted, cross-referencing Forbes’ 2025 Billionaires List (April 2025) with Bloomberg’s Billionaires 2025 Index, a daily snapshot of global wealth (as of 14 May 2025). Net worths are presented as ranges, capturing the dynamics of ever-shifting markets.
The world’s wealthiest women in 2025
11. Melinda French Gates
Based in the U.S., Melinda French Gates, born in 1964, is a philanthropist and advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equity. Formerly married to Bill Gates (the planet’s once-richest man), she co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Following their 2021 divorce, which included a reported $25 billion settlement, she resigned from the foundation in 2024 to focus on Pivotal Ventures, supporting women-led startups.
| Net Worth: | $15.7–$30.4 billion |
| Age: | 60 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Technology |
| Source of Wealth: | Microsoft, Divorce settlement, Investments |
| Impact: | Invested $1 billion in 50+ women-led startups since 2024. |
| Interesting Fact: | Authored the New York Times bestselling The Moment of Lift. |
10. Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart, born in 1954, is the executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting, Australia’s largest private company. Inheriting a struggling mining firm from her father, Lang Hancock, in 1992, she transformed it into a powerhouse through strategic iron ore expansion and rare-earth ventures. Based in Perth, she also oversees a 9.2 million-acre cattle empire. Rinehart’s bold leadership has solidified her status as a dominant force in Australia’s mining and agricultural sectors.
| Net Worth: | $26.9–29.3 billion |
| Age: | 71 |
| Country: | Australia |
| Industry: | Metals & Mining, Agriculture |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Hancock Prospecting |
| Impact: | Major shareholder in MP Materials, advancing green tech. Employs 5,000+ across Australia’s largest private company. |
| Interesting Fact: | Owns the world’s largest cattle station, Anna Creek. |
9. Marilyn Simons
Marilyn Simons, born in 1951, is a philanthropist and economist with a PhD from Stony Brook University. She co-founded the Simons Foundation with her late husband, Jim Simons, a hedge fund pioneer who passed away in 2024. The foundation funds STEM and autism research, with her grants empowering scientists worldwide, channeling her inherited wealth into scientific breakthroughs.
| Net Worth: | $31 billion |
| Age: | 74 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Finance & Investments |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Renaissance Technologies |
| Impact: | Simons Foundation supports 1,000+ researchers annually. |
| Interesting Fact: | Co-founded Math for America to train STEM teachers. |
8. Miriam Adelson
Miriam Adelson, born in 1945, is a physician and philanthropist who inherited a majority stake in casino company Las Vegas Sands following her husband Sheldon Adelson’s death in 2021. Trained in medicine at Tel Aviv University, she has donated over $1 billion to addiction research. A prominent GOP donor based in the U.S., she also co-owns the American professional basketball team Dallas Mavericks. Adelson leverages her wealth to advance scientific research and shape political landscapes, honoring her husband’s legacy while forging her own.
| Net Worth: | $32.1–$34.4 billion |
| Age: | 79 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Casinos |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Las Vegas Sands |
| Impact: | Clinics treat 10,000+ addiction patients yearly. |
| Interesting Fact: | Owns a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. |
7. Savitri Jindal
Savitri Jindal, born in 1940, is the chairwoman of the Jindal Group, a leading Indian conglomerate in steel, power, and cement. After her husband’s death in 2005, she transformed personal tragedy into industrial triumph, significantly expanding the family business. Based in India, she also served as a Haryana minister until 2024. Through her foundation, she supports education and healthcare initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to social impact.
| Net Worth: | $30.9–35.5 billion |
| Age: | 85 |
| Country: | India |
| Industry: | Steel, Infrastructure |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Jindal Group |
| Impact: | Jindal Group employs 50,000+ and funds schools and hospitals. |
| Interesting Fact: | Served as a minister in Haryana’s government until 2024. |
6. Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson, born in 1961, is the CEO of Fidelity Investments, a Boston-based firm founded by her grandfather. Joining in 1988, she became CEO in 2014, driving innovation with crypto trading and Bitcoin ETFs. A low-profile leader, she serves on boards like SIFMA, shaping the financial industry. Johnson’s strategic vision blends tradition with innovation, solidifying Fidelity’s dominance and establishing her as a pioneer in wealth management and fintech.
| Net Worth: | $32.7–39.2 billion |
| Age: | 63 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Finance, Investments |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Fidelity Investments |
| Impact: | Manages $5.9 trillion in assets for 40 million investors. |
| Interesting Fact: | First woman to serve on the Financial Services Forum board and lead a major mutual fund firm. |
5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, born in 1945, is a Swiss-Italian entrepreneur who co-founded Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in 1970 with her husband, Gianluigi, using a $200,000 loan. Their meeting on a Capri boat trip sparked a global shipping empire with over 900 vessels. Recognized by Forbes as a Self-Made Woman, she plays a key role in MSC Cruises, overseeing ship designs.
| Net Worth: | $37.7 billion |
| Age: | 80 |
| Country: | Switzerland |
| Industry: | Logistics |
| Source of Wealth: | Self-made, MSC |
| Impact: | MSC handles 7% of global shipping containers, serving 155+ countries. |
| Interesting Fact: | Personally decorates MSC Cruises’ luxury liners. |
4. Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars, born in 1939, is an heiress to Mars, Inc., the family-owned candy empire behind M&M’s and Snickers. The granddaughter of founder Frank Mars, she joined the company in 1982 and inherited a one-third stake. Based in Virginia, she is a passionate advocate for conservation and equestrian causes, dedicating significant resources to protecting vast U.S. landscapes.
| Net Worth: | $42.6–44.6 billion |
| Age: | 85 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Food & Beverage, Confectionery |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Mars, Inc. |
| Impact: | Protects 100,000+ acres of U.S. land through grants. |
| Interesting Fact: | Her Virginia horse farm trains Olympic medalists’ mounts. |
3. Julia Koch
Julia Koch, born in 1962 in Iowa, is a philanthropist who inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. (formerly Koch Industries), a major private firm in oil, agriculture, and more, following the 2019 death of her husband, industrialist David Koch. Transitioning from a fashion assistant to a prominent steward of the company, she is based in New York and supports cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art while funding medical advancements. Her philanthropy reflects a commitment to cultural and scientific progress.
| Net Worth: | $74.2–78.1 billion |
| Age: | 63 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Industrial |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Koch, Inc. |
| Impact: | Donated $75 million to NYU Langone for a Florida medical center. |
| Interesting Fact: | Owns 15% stakes in Brooklyn Nets, Liberty, and Barclays Center. |
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, born in 1953 in France, is the heiress to L’Oréal, holding a 35% stake in the cosmetics giant behind Maybelline and Lancôme. Inheriting her fortune from her mother, Liliane, in 2017, her wealth persists despite a 20% dip in L’Oréal’s stock. An author of mythology books, she combines intellectual pursuits with business acumen. Through her foundation, she funds science and arts, while her mother’s life inspired the 2025 Cannes-premiered film The Richest Woman in the World by Thierry Klifa.
| Net Worth: | $81.6–90.4 billion |
| Age: | 71 |
| Country: | France |
| Industry: | Cosmetics, Retail |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, L’Oréal |
| Impact: | Funds 150+ science and art projects annually via Fondation Bettencourt Schueller. |
| Interesting Fact: | Donated $226 million to rebuild Notre-Dame after its 2019 fire. First woman to reach $100 billion net worth in 2023. |
1. Alice Walton
Alice Walton, born in 1949 in Arkansas, is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and a prominent philanthropist. Inheriting a significant Walmart stake in 1992, she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in 2011, showcasing works by artists like Warhol and O’Keeffe. In 2025, she launched the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, advancing equitable healthcare education. Living privately, Walton transforms her retail fortune into cultural enrichment and social impact.
| Net Worth: | $101–115 billion |
| Age: | 75 |
| Country: | United States |
| Industry: | Retail |
| Source of Wealth: | Inherited, Walmart |
| Impact: | Her museum Crystal Bridges welcomes 600,000 visitors yearly; her medical school promotes equitable healthcare. |
| Interesting Fact: | Owns a $25 million art collection, including a $35 million Durand painting. Sold $21 million in Walmart stock in 2024 to fund philanthropy. |
The bigger picture
With over $500 billion in collective wealth, these richest women in the world—nine inheriting wealth, one self-made, and one from a divorce settlement—command retail, logistics, and mining. Their impact—spanning museums, hospitals, and startups—shows wealth’s potential to drive change.
Self-made successes, though, lag behind inherited empires, highlighting a stark wealth gap. Yet, rising stars like Canva’s Melanie Perkins signal a tech-driven future, with slowly more women poised to disrupt the ranks. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey ($3 billion), the first Black female billionaire since 2003 via her media empire, alongside Rihanna ($1.7 billion), Taylor Swift ($1.6 billion), and Beyoncé ($800 million), underscore entertainment’s growing influence—though their wealth pales next to inherited fortunes like Alice Walton’s $101 billion. This inspired our separate ranking of the world’s richest self-made women under 40.
List of richest women in the world (Descending order by Net Worth):
- Alice Walton ($101–$115 billion) – United States, Retail
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers ($81.6–$90.4 billion) – France, Cosmetics, Retail
- Julia Koch ($74.2–$78.1 billion) – United States, Industrial
- Jacqueline Mars ($42.6–$44.6 billion) – United States, F&B, Confectionery
- Rafaela Aponte-Diamant ($37.7 billion) – Switzerland, Logistics
- Abigail Johnson ($32.7–$39.2 billion) – United States, Finance
- Miriam Adelson ($32.1–$34.4 billion) – United States, Casinos
- Savitri Jindal ($30.9–$35.5 billion) – India, Steel, Infrastructure
- Marilyn Simons ($31 billion) – United States, Finance
- Gina Rinehart ($26.9–$29.3 billion) – Australia, Metals & Mining, Agriculture
- Melinda French Gates ($15.7–$30.4 billion) – United States, Technology
