ALBAWABA – On March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a global occasion honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Today, we will walk you through the names of the world’s richest women.
World’s richest women
According to Forbes India, the five richest women in the world are Alice Walton, Francoise Bettencourt, Julia Koch, Jacqueline Mars, and Rafaela Aponte-Diamant.
1. Alice Walton
Alice Walton, the American heiress to the Walmart fortune as the daughter of founder Sam Walton, has a net worth of approximately $112.5 billion. She is by far the richest woman in the world.
Most of her wealth comes from Walmart shares, the American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other countries.
Now 75 years old, Walton is passionate about art. She founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where she both sells and exhibits significant art pieces.
2. Francoise Bettencourt
Second on the list is Francoise Bettencourt, the French businesswoman, philanthropist, writer, billionaire heiress, and the second-richest woman in the world, with an estimated net worth of about $74.4 billion.
Bettencourt, now 71, is the granddaughter of L'Oréal’s founder. She currently serves as the chairwoman of L'Oréal alongside her family members.
3. Julia Koch
Third on the list of the world’s richest women is Julia Koch, with an estimated net worth of $74.2 billion. Koch is an American socialite and philanthropist who ranks among the richest women in the world.
Alice Walton, the world's richest women, with a net worth of approximately $112.5 billion. (AFP)
Her wealth primarily comes from inheriting Koch Industries, an American multinational corporation.
4. Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars follows with a net worth of nearly $42.3 billion. An American heiress and investor, she is the daughter of Audrey Ruth and Forrest Mars Sr. and the granddaughter of Franklin Clarence Mars, the founders of the American candy company Mars Inc.
Now 85 years old, she owns about one-third of Mars, Inc. and served as a board member for nearly two decades.
5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Last on our list of the world’s richest women is Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, an Italian-Israeli billionaire and major shareholder in the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), alongside her husband, Gianluigi Aponte.
At 79 years old, Diamant has a net worth of approximately $39.0 billion. She owns about 50% of MSC, an international shipping line founded by Gianluigi Aponte in Italy in 1970.
