TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The richest women in the world stand as the representation of gender equality, putting forward empowering movements upon the global financial system. They share the same value of continued growth, unwavering perseverance, and unshakable resilience.
Paving the path for other women in the workplace, these remarkable women are also rewriting history with their inspiring legacies.
Who is the Richest Woman in the World?
According to Forbes, 13.4% of the 3,028 billionaire spots in 2025 are occupied by women, marking a subtle increase from last year. Take a look at top richest women in the world who share influential reputation below:
1. Alice Walton - US$101 Billion
Alice Walton is the richest woman alive, whose wealth stems from a substantial number of shares she inherited from his father, Sam Walton, or the Walmart founder. Living in a totally different bubble, Alice Walton enjoys an aesthetic life surrounded by artworks.
Her passion towards visually curated existence, she successfully opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, which houses a host of outstanding products by American artists including Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and Georgia O’Keefe.
2. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family - US$81.6 Billion
Bettencourt Meyers, who was hailed as the richest woman in the world just last year, spent 28 years on the board of L’Oréal– a thriving business empire that she didn’t just inherit, but elevated with her own vision and drive.
After experiencing a 20% decline in sales within their China region, the resignation of Bettencourt Meyers as vice chair in February didn’t come unnoticed. From then on, her son, Jean-Victor Meyers has been grinding to fill the vacant spot by the end of the year.
3. Julia Koch & Family - US$74.2 Billion
Julia Koch still has an ample amount of financial resources attributed under her belt after the devastating passing of her late husband David Koch many years ago. Julia along with her three children are listed for a staggering 42% stake in the Koch industries, reinforcing their influence as one of the richest families in the world.
Beyond oil refining, real estate, and agriculture, Julia recently leveraged her reach upon the sport legacy where she signed a 15% stake of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets for US$700 million.
4. Jacqueline Mars - US$42.6 Billion
The Mars family's steadfast resolve to avoid public attention doesn’t deter the curious to dig deeper about Jacqueline Mars, the fourth generation of the candy empire. The inheritance of the M&M industry comes hand-in-hand with heavy burdens of staying relevant amidst the fast-paced snacks market. Thanks to Jacquliene’s strategic thinking as an honored member of the board for 20 years, the M&M business has grown even larger.
5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant - US$37.7 Billion
Aponte-Diamant is a familiar face on the wealthy billionaires list, having been regarded as the richest self-made woman for three consecutive years. Unlike her contenders, the Swiss billionaire built her empire from scratch with her husband in 1970. Today, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) she oversees is listed as the world’s largest shipping line whose fleet includes 900 ships.
6. Savitri Jindal & Family - US$35.5 Billion
Savitri Jindal transformed a vulnerable moment into breakthrough stories following the death of her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal, in 2005.
Assisted by four of Jindal’s children, Savitri stepped up as the head board of OP Jindal Group– an Indian conglomerate spanning cement, steel, infrastructure, and power. Their immense wealth has been writing history as one of the richest families in Asia.
7. Abigail Johnson - US$32.7 Billion
Abigail Johnson has been on the list of the richest women in the world all of her life, owing to the jaw-dropping 28.5% stake she holds in Fidelity Investments. Founded in 1946, the Boston-based fund company has been nothing short of impactful across the financial industry. Abigail’s deep-rooted knowledge of the company has also led her to assume the CEO position in 2014 after spending noticeable years of working as full-time analyst.
8. Miriam Adelson & Family - US$32.1 Billion
Among the other richest women in the world, Miriam Adelson has a slightly different mindset towards a business empire in general. For years, she has been focusing the majority of her life upon an outstanding medical background as a physician in training. Now, combined with her philanthropic efforts, Miriam Adelson remains adamant in combating drug addiction.
9. Marilyn Simons & Family - US$31 Billion
As one of the richest women in the world, the widow of renowned investor Jim Simons, Marilyn Simons uses the perfect resources to a good will.
Beginning with a mentorship program called Stony Brook University’s Women’s Leadership Council, she is now attributed to other philanthropic leadership journeys including the East Harlem Scholar Academies and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
10. Melinda French Gates - US$30.4 Billion
Occupying the last spot of top ten richest women in the world, Melinda French Gates actually experienced one of the biggest wealth spikes this year.
Following the divorce with Bill Gates, Melinda French gained about US$19.3 billion to her name, which marked the end of an era in the Gates Foundation.
The stories of the richest women in the world extend far beyond numbers, showcasing their own tales of vision, resilience, and impact. As they continue to break barriers and build futures, their wealth becomes a symbol of possibility for generations of women to come. Still with the wealthy individuals, check out the richest men in 2025 so far here.
Editor's Choice: These Are Forbes' 10 Youngest Billionaire in the World, April 2025
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