Kylie Jenner was recently named the world’s first female self-made billionaire – but fashion brand Missy Empire thinks otherwise.
She is not in the firm’s top 10 after research which revealed 63% of top women in business are self-made.
Many believe Jenner got a leg-up from already rich and famous relatives. Here are the women Missy Empire believes are the true self-made female entrepreneurs.
- Beyonce – the singer is married to hip hop tycoon Jay-Z but she was an Independent Woman in business long before he pitched up, selling millions in her own right. Bet you can name more of her songs than his.
- Ellen DeGeneres – TV host broke through with her own sitcom Ellen but is best known for the chat show she has hosted since 2003.
- Oprah Winfrey – Chat show is able to talk the biggest names on to her couch, then get them to spill their guts on network TV.
- Serena Williams – Arguably the most successful sports woman of all time, she even won tennis’s Australian Open while pregnant.
- Venus Williams – Serena’s sister isn’t quite as successful , but she’s done well enough to challenge her little sis on the list.
- Jessica Alba – Former teen actor is better known for her singing career these days.
- Drew Barrymore – Since that scream in ET as a child actor, Barrymore has become one of the world’s most recognisable actors but she now rakes in a fortune from fashion and make-up.
- Diane Hendricks – Made her fortune selling custom-built homes in Wisconsin and still owns the company ABC Supply, which sells roofing, windows and gutters.
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Vera Wang – New York fashion designer who dresses the rich and famous – including Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City
- Marian Ilitch – founded Little Caesar’s Pizza chain with her late husband in Michigan and went on to make billions out of casinos and gaming.
CEO of Missy Empire, Ash Siddique said: “Female entrepreneurs are so important and they need to be talked about. Young people today can be inspired by these successful celebrities and know that you don’t necessarily need to have the most obvious criteria to be successful.
“We have included women from all walks of life, and that shows budding entrepreneurs that everybody has a chance to be successful if they work hard enough.”
