Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
This Frenchwoman first appeared on the Forbes list in 2018. Four years ago, she topped the list of the wealthiest women on the planet and has held the leadership position until now. Over the past 12 months, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ fortune has surged by $19 billion to an impressive $99.5 billion, the largest increase among female billionaires. The main source of income of the 70-year-old businesswoman is still the shares of cosmetics giant L'Oreal Group. Seven years ago, F. Bettencourt Meyers inherited a 35% stake in the company after the death of her mother.
Alice Walton
On the second line of the rating is 74-year-old American Alice Walton, one of the heiresses of the world's largest retail chain, Walmart. Thanks to the fact that Walmart shares jumped in value by 34% last year, her personal capital over the past 12 months has grown by almost $16 billion to more than $72 billion. Unlike her brothers, A. Walton does not participate in the management of the family business, choosing instead a creative path. She collects works of art and is a well-known patron of culture.
Julia Koch
The third place is taken by 61-year-old American Julia Koch, the widow of renowned businessman David Hamilton Koch. Five years ago, after the death of her husband, she inherited a 42% stake in the diversified conglomerate Koch Industries, which has a wide range of activities from oil refining to the production of medical technology. Currently, the fortune of J. Koch and her three children exceeds $64 billion.
Jacqueline Mars
The fourth line in the ranking is occupied by 84-year-old Jacqueline Mars, whose fortune is currently estimated at more than $38 billion. Despite her advanced age, this businesswoman continues to keep her hand on the pulse of the family business, which was founded by her grandfather, Frank S. Mars, in the early 20th century. Today, J. Mars is co-owner of the Mars food company, which produces confectionery as well as pet food.
MacKenzie Scott
Mackenzie Scott, the 53-year-old American and ex-wife of former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos rounds out the top five on the Forbes list. MacKenzie Scott is the ex-wife of former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Five years ago, following her divorce, M. Scott received as a payoff 4% of the shares of the online giant, which made her the wealthiest woman in the world. However, her fortune has since shrunk dramatically to $35.6 billion due to M. Scott being one of the most active and generous philanthropists of our time. The total amount of her charitable donations to date has reached $17 billion.
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