Top 5 Richest Women in the World

We take a look at the top 5 richest women in the world.

When discussing wealthy individuals, it is usually rich men that get discussed not who are the richest women in the world. Perhaps that is not surprising as women make up only 10% of the world’s 1,800 billionaires. That figure is also down from 197 to 190 female billionaires on the previous year’s total.

We list the top five female entrepreneurs that head up the rich list.

Starting in reverse order and working down to the current richest woman in the world:

5. Susanne Klatten of Germany – Estimated Net Worth $19.5 billion

The world’s fifth richest woman, she owns 50% of BMW with her brother Stefan Quandt.

Susanne is acknowledged as an entrepreneur in her own right, having steered German pharmaceutical and chemical company Altana AG toward $2 billion in annual sales.

She accumulated her wealth by secretly receiving shares from her mother Johanna, who before her death last year was regarded as the world’s 9th richest woman.

4.  Maria Franca Fissolo – Estimated Net Worth $22.1 billion

Glamorous Italian businesswoman and also the widow of the famous businessman Michele Ferrero, founder of the 2nd largest confectionery company in Europe.  Famous for some of the world’s most luxurious tasting chocolate brands enabling Ambassadors to spoil their guests on any occasion with Ferrero Rocher, Mon Cheri and childrens favourites Kinder & Nutella.

3. Jacqueline Mars –  Estimated Net Worth $24.4 billion

American heiress to the Mars company, daughter of the late Forrest Mars and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars.  The company is most well known for chocolates such as Milky Way’s, Snickers and M&M’s but also long-time famous brands like Uncle Ben’s rice and pet foods Whiskas and Pedigree. Jacqueline is also a trustee of the U.S. Equestrian Team.

2. Alice Walton – Estimated Net Worth $52.3 billion

Alice is another American heiress, in this case to the famous shopping retailer Wal-Mart, daughter of the great founder Sam Walton. Her reported net worth of $52.3 billion is due to the continuing rise of Walmart stock.

With a love for supporting charities with her wealth and being a very well-known art collector since a young age. Helped to develop Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and also in securing the development of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. She has also made a $25,000 donation to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.

1. MacKenzie Scott – Estimated Net Worth $57.5 billion

The author, philanthropist and former wife of the richest man in the world, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, received a divorce settlement that equated to 4% of the company’s value, which equated at the time to approximately $35 billion.

Since then, Amazon shares have skyrocketed as more people shopped on the E-commerce website during the coronavirus lockdown and retail restrictions.

This has seen MacKenzie Scott’s net worth rise to nearly $58 billion.

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