top 10 richest women in the world

1) Christy Walton
Christy Walton is not only the reigning queen of Wal-Mart Corp, but is also the holder of the world’s richest woman title. With $25. 3 billion to her name, John Walton’s widow is surely bursting at the seams with wealth. Upon the death of her husband in 2005, Christy inherited all the money, shares, and assets left to her by her other half.

She is America’s fourth richest person and the world’s tenth wealthiest individual. How great it must be to fill her shoes even for just a day! Of course, it would be more enticing if she didn’t have a Fortune 500 company on her shoulders. After all, with great power (and wealth), comes great responsibility. Spiderman’s uncle couldn’t have said it any better.


2) Lilliane Bettencourt
Being into make-up might just be your ticket to be counted among the world’s richest women. Judging by the wealth amassed by Lilliane Bettencourt from L’Oreal, the cosmetic and beauty industry must be a really lucrative one. She is said to have $24 billion in her treasure chest, or at least, her bank accounts, company shares, and other possessions.

The 89-year-old is famous worldwide for being a clever business woman as well as a golden-hearted philanthropist. With the amount of money she has, she can definitely afford to give some away. Anyone else wants to be put down on the list of her charities?


3) Alice Walton

Wal-Mart must be doing really well for it to land two Waltons on this list of the richest women inthe world. Alice Walton, sister-in-law of Christy Walton and daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of the empire, is now 62 years old and is worth $23. 3 billion.

She is the tenth wealthiest individual in the United States as well as the seventeenth richestperson in the entire world. To anyone who is aware of Sam’s humble beginnings as a clerk, the Walton wealth should serve as a reminder that poverty need not be a permanent state.


4) Georgina “Gina” Rinehart
Fifty eight year old Georgina Rinehart makes it to this list with a net worth of $18 billion. Australia’s richest woman got her wealth from the late Lang Hancock, the mining mogul who fathered Georgina.

Though you might assume that every dollar she now owns was handed to her on a platter upon Hancock’s death, you couldn’t be more wrong. Georgina also deserves some of the credit for the vast contributions she has made to their mining business. Now, do tell where one can find some valuable metals to mine!

5) Iris Fontbona
When Andronico Luksic lost his battle with cancer in the year 2005, his widow, Iris Fontbona, was awarded $17. 8 billion from the shareholdings of the well-diversified Luksic Group. Among its many interests, the group has a hand in the beverage, financial, industrial, and mining sectors. (The mining industry makes a bold statement again!

Nearing seventy years old, Iris now lives in Chile with her family. Which do you think is the better way of amassing riches as great as theirs: trying your hand at mining or marrying into their family?


6) Birgit Rausing
At 88 years old, Birgit Rausing is still giving younger women a run for their money when it comes to being among the richest women in the world. When Birgit’s husband died in the year 2000, he left her a sizeable inheritance in the form of the Tetra Laval Company, which is a goliath in the packaging industry.

With an astounding $14 billion at her fingertips, Birgit is considered to be Sweden’s third wealthiest individual on top of being the sixth richest woman in the world. Don’t you just love the packaging trade? You can bet Birgit and her family do.


7) Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars, the lucky granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, is surely enjoying the fruits of her grandfather’s labors and Candy Company. Valued at $13. 8 billion, her wealth makes her one of the world’s richest women and the USA’s fourth wealthiest woman to this date.

Based on the profits being turned out by Mars, Incorporated and Jacqueline’s considerable wealth, chocolates must be the surefire way to becoming well-heeled. Before you get too excited, though, make sure you have a sound business plan in mind. You’ll want your chocolates melting in other people’s mouths, not in your hands.


8) Susanne Klatten
It’s probably safe to say that BMW has reached a following so extensive that almost everyone has heard of the brand. But do you know who the heir to the company is?

 It’s time you found out. Susanne Klatten, daughter of the late Herbert Quandt, is now the proud owner of the company as well as Altana, which is a leading chemical manufacturer in Germany. How rich have the two companies made her you ask? Well, does the amount of $13 billion seem rich enough for you?


9) Anne Cox Chambers
Anne Cox Chambers used to be a news reporter as well as a school teacher. She has come a long way since then. When her father, Cox Enterprises founder James M. Cox, passed away, he left the company and his money to her.

Today, with riches amounting to $12. 5 billion, ninety two year old Anne is counted as one of the world’s richest women. It must be great to enjoy that kind of money well into old age. Anne is surely one lucky wealthy lady!


10) Savitri Jindal
With the help of her sons, Savitri Jindal of India makes sure everything is in order at the O. P. Jindal Group. The said company is a leader in the steel industry as well as one of the most dynamic conglomerates in the country. Considered as the 44th richest person and the tenthrichest woman in the world, Savitri Jindal will certainly have your jaws dropping at her $10. 9 billion net worth.

As you’ve probably concluded by now, businesswomen and/or heiresses trump celebrities when it comes to fortunes and riches. But who knows? Maybe the future will see a number of stars joining the ranks of the top ten richest women in the world.