In 2024the number of women in the Forbes billionaires list has increased, reaching 13.3% of the total with 369 women of a total of 2,781 billionaires. This figure represents growth compared to 12.8% of the year 2023when there was 337 women on the list. The sum of assets of these women is almost 1.8 trillion dollars (1.7 billion euros), an increase of 240 billion dollars (228 billion euros) compared to the previous year.
The inheritance pattern is dominant: nine of the ten richest women inherited their fortunes. Within this group is Abigail Johnsonexecutive director of Fidelity Investmentswho helped increase the company’s revenue to $28.2 billion (26,833 million euros) in 2023and is the tenth richest woman in the world this year.
A notable exception is Rafaela Aponte-Diamantco-founder of one of the largest shipping companies in the world and the richest self-made woman on the list of Forbes. Aponte-Diamant is also among the 100 richest people in the world.
The general list of 2024 shows an increase not only in number, but also in the value of the fortune accumulated by women. This phenomenon reflects a progressive change, although inheritance remains the main driver behind the most prominent female wealth on the world stage.
The granddaughter of the founder of The real and heiress to the family fortune, she is the richest woman in the world for the fourth consecutive year. Most of her wealth is tied to her nearly 35% stake in cosmetics giant L’Oréal Group, which has $45 billion in revenue and prominent brands including Maybelline, Kiehl’s and Lancôme.
Bettencourt Meyers, who inherited his fortune from his mother, Liliane Bettencourt (who died in 2017), appeared for the first time on the billionaires list from Forbes in 2018, with 42.2 billion dollars.
The richest woman in the United States is $15.6 billion richer this year, due to a 34% rise in Walmart’s stock price over the past 12 months.
The heir is the only daughter of the founder of Walmart, Sam Walton (died 1992). Unlike her brothers, she never served on the retailer’s board of directors; instead, she focused on art.
She is known for opening the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, which features works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.
The widow of David Koch (died in 2019) went from the second to the third richest woman this year. Her and her three children They inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries, which has businesses ranging from oil refining and medical technology to paper towels. She is a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The heir to Mars Inc. owns the candy giant and pet foods along with his brother, John Mars, and the four daughters of his late brother Forrest Jr. The company owns historic brands, including M&Ms, Snickers, Ben’s Original and Pedigree dog food.
It was founded by his grandfather, Frank C. Mars, who began selling buttercream candies from his kitchen in 1911. His son, Stephen Badger, is on Mars’ board of directors.
The Billionaire philanthropist obtained 4% of Amazon after her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019 and pledged to donate most of his wealth soon after.
In March, Scott awarded $640 million to 361 organizations that had applied for funding in a competition. His lifetime gifts have totaled $17.3 billion, made up of a collection of smaller, no-strings-attached gifts that often surprise recipients.
The Chairman of the Jindal Group and widow of the founder, Om Prakash Jindal (died 2005), is the richest woman in India. Jindal Group operates in the steel, power, cement and infrastructure sectors. Following the death of OP Jindal in a helicopter accident, the group’s companies were divided among his four sons, who now run them independently. Jindal was the 12th richest woman in 2023; Rising stock prices raised her fortune.
Aponte-Diamant and her husband Gianluigi Aponte, co-founders of MSC, each own a 50% stake in the company they founded in 1970, which has since become the world’s largest shipping line. She is responsible for the decoration of the company’s MSC Cruises ships. She and her husband entered the industry using a $200,000 loan to buy a boat.
Adelson and his family own more than half of Las Vegas Sands, one of the largest casino operators in the world. She inherited the stake after her husband, Sheldon Adelson, the longtime kingmaker of the Republican Party, died in 2021. As a doctor, she has donated more than $1 billion over her lifetime to fund research. medicine and drug discovery, according to estimates from Forbes.
The Australian tycoon presides the mining and agricultural company Hancock Prospecting Group. He inherited the business from his father Lang Hancock (died 1992). His fortune has increased by 14% since March 2023 and he remains the richest person in Australia.
The director of the giant Fidelity mutual funds dropped from 11th place to rejoin this year’s 10 richest women. Johnson was CEO of Fidelity Investments until 2014, after which she replaced her father, Edward ‘Ned’ Johnson III (died 2022). She owns an estimated 28.5% stake in the company, which has $4.9 trillion in assets under management. The company was founded by her grandfather in 1946.
