THE five richest women in the world have a combined wealth of nearly $300billion.
Overall, there are a total of 328 women on Forbes’ 2021 list of billionaires.
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Who are the richest women in the world?
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
French heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has a net worth of $73.6billion, according to Forbes.
She inherited her fortune from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who passed away in 2017.
Liliane Bettencourt was the daughter of Eugene Schueller, who founded L’Oréal.
Bettencourt Meyers has served on the L’Oreal board for more than two decades, according to Forbes.
She has been married to Jean-Pierre Meyers since 1984.
5
Alice Walton
Alice Walton lost the number one spot to Bettencourt Meyers, but has a staggering net worth of $61.8billion, according to Forbes.
Her father Sam Walton, who died in 1992, founded Walmart and Sam’s Club.
According to Forbes, Alice “has focused on curating art, rather than working for Walmart like her siblings, Rob and Jim.”
A decade ago she opened an art museum in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas.
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art includes work from Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Mark Rothko, according to Forbes.
5
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott, a novelist who was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos from 1993 to 2019, has a net worth of $53billion.
Their divorce is considered the most expensive in history.
Scott then “became the biggest philanthropist of the pandemic, giving away $5.8billion in grants to 500 nonprofit organizations across the US, supporting causes including racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights and public health,” according to Forbes.
Scott, who shares son Preston with Bezos, married Dan Jewett in 2021.
5
Julia Koch
Julia Koch, the widow of businessman David Koch, and her loved ones have a net worth of $46.4billion.
She and her children have a 42 percent stake in Koch Industries, according to Forbes.
Charles Koch, now 85, is David’s older brother and also owns a 42 percent stake.
Julia has three children – Mary, John, and David Jr.
5
Miriam Adelson
Miriam Adelson, who has a 56 percent stake in the Las Vegas Sands, has a net worth of $38.2billion.
The Las Vegas Sands was owned by husband Sheldon Adelson, who passed away in 2021.
“The company lost $985million in the second quarter of 2020 as its two Vegas casinos and resorts were shuttered due to statewide lockdowns,” according to Forbes.
“The casinos reopened in June 2020, but the business ended the year with $1.69billion in net loss, compared to $2.7billion in profits in the previous year.
Las Vegas Sands announced earlier this year that it is selling its Las Vegas properties.
