The world’s richest women continued to see their fortunes expand over the past year, with many deriving their wealth from major companies, investments and inherited family businesses.
According to Forbes, the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest women span industries including retail, cosmetics, mining, banking, shipping, oil and gas, technology and financial services.
Most of the women on the list are from the United States, while others are based in countries including France, India, China, Germany, Australia, Chile, Greece and Switzerland.
The ranking is based on Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires List, which provides a snapshot of wealth as of March 1, 2026. Women accounted for 14 per cent of those included on the list.
Forbes calculates individuals’ net worth using assets such as stakes in public and private companies, real estate and other investments, while also considering factors including debt and charitable giving.
In some cases, Forbes combines the wealth of immediate family members with that of the main billionaire, identifying such entries with “& family.”
Here are the 20 richest women in the world according to the ranking:
20. Diane Hendricks — $22.3 billion
Hendricks, 79, co-founded ABC Supply, the largest roofing wholesaler in the United States, with her late husband, Ken Hendricks, in 1982.
Following her husband’s death in 2007, she became chair of ABC Supply and oversaw some of the company’s largest acquisitions, including Bradco in 2010 and L&W Supply in 2016.
Source of wealth: Building supplies
Country: United States
World rank: 113
19. Christy Walton — $24.3 billion
Walton, 77, inherited a stake in Walmart after the death of her husband, John Walton, in 2005. She also received about one-sixth of his estate.
Source of wealth: Walmart
Country: United States
World rank: 106
18. Gina Rinehart — $25.5 billion
Rinehart, 72, rebuilt her late father’s financially troubled company, Hancock Prospecting, after his death. She has served as the company’s executive chair since 1992, with its major asset being an iron ore mining project.
Source of wealth: Mining
Country: Australia
World rank: 101
17. Vicky Safra & family — $27.1 billion
Safra, 74, inherited her fortune alongside her children following the death of her husband, Joseph Safra.
The family’s financial interests include J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland, Safra National Bank of New York and Banco Safra in Brazil.
Source of wealth: Banking
Country: Greece
World rank: 94
16. MacKenzie Scott — $28.6 billion
Scott, 56, received a four per cent stake in Amazon following her divorce from the company’s founder, Jeff Bezos.
The author and philanthropist also shares information about her charitable donations through the Yield Giving platform.
Source of wealth: Amazon
Country: United States
World rank: 84
15. Susanne Klatten — $29.7 billion
Klatten, 64, owns approximately 19 per cent of BMW, a stake she inherited from her parents.
She is also the sole owner and deputy chair of Altana, a global specialty chemicals company.
Source of wealth: BMW, pharmaceuticals
Country: Germany
World rank: 79
14. Lyndal Stephens Greth & family — $30 billion
Greth, 51, became chair of Endeavor Energy Resources following the death of her father, who founded the company.
Endeavor, an oil and gas exploration and production company, was acquired by Diamondback in 2024.
Source of wealth: Oil and gas
Country: United States
World rank: 77
13. Melinda French Gates — $30.3 billion
French Gates, 62, is the founder of Pivotal and a former co-chair of the Gates Foundation.
She spent the first decade of her career at Microsoft and has become widely known for her philanthropic work.
Source of wealth: Microsoft
Country: United States
World rank: 74
12. Elaine Marshall & family — $30.9 billion
Marshall, 84, and her two sons inherited an estimated 16 per cent stake in Koch Inc. from her late husband.
The family’s wealth is linked to Koch Inc., whose history is connected to J. Howard Marshall II, an early partner of Fred Koch.
Source of wealth: Koch Inc.
Country: United States
World rank: 71
11. Marilyn Simons & family — $32.5 billion
Simons, 75, is the widow of Jim Simons, who founded hedge fund company Renaissance Technologies.
She co-founded and chairs the Simons Foundation, which supports research in mathematics and the basic sciences.
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Country: United States
World rank: 66
10. Zheng Shuliang & family — $33.2 billion
Zheng Shuliang, 80, previously served as vice chair of China Hongqiao Group, one of China’s largest aluminium producers, until May 2026.
Her late husband, Zhang Shiping, founded the company.
Source of wealth: Aluminium products
Country: China
World rank: 63
9. Abigail Johnson — $33.2 billion
Johnson, 64, serves as chair and chief executive officer of Fidelity Investments, which was founded by her grandfather in 1946.
She succeeded her father as CEO in 2014.
Source of wealth: Fidelity
Country: United States
World rank: 63
8. Miriam Adelson & family — $37.5 billion
Adelson, 80, and her family own more than half of casino company Las Vegas Sands.
Her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, founded and previously served as CEO of the company. She also acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023.
Source of wealth: Casinos
Country: United States
World rank: 56
7. Savitri Jindal & family — $39.1 billion
Jindal, 76, chairs the O.P. Jindal Group, a conglomerate with interests in industries including steel and power.
Following the death of her husband in 2005, the group’s businesses have been independently managed by their four sons.
Source of wealth: Steel
Country: India
World rank: 51
6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant — $44.5 billion
Aponte-Diamant, 81, owns half of MSC, one of the world’s largest shipping and logistics companies.
She and her husband entered the industry together in 1970.
Source of wealth: Shipping
Country: Switzerland
World rank: 44
5. Jacqueline Mars — $49.1 billion
Mars, 86, is the granddaughter of Franklin Clarence Mars, who founded Mars, the confectionery, food and pet-care company.
She owns an estimated one-third of the business.
Source of wealth: Candy, pet food
Country: United States
World rank: 38
4. Iris Fontbona & family — $52.6 billion
Fontbona, 83, and her children control Antofagasta Plc, a Chile-based, London-listed copper mining company.
Following the death of her husband, Andrnico Luksic, in 2005, she and his heirs inherited his businesses.
Source of wealth: Mining
Country: Chile
World rank: 35
3. Julia Koch & family — $81.2 billion
Koch, 64, and her children inherited a 42 per cent stake in Koch Inc. following the death of her husband in 2019.
Koch Inc. is one of the world’s largest privately held companies, with operations spanning industries from energy to healthcare.
Source of wealth: Koch Inc.
Country: United States
World rank: 24
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family — $100 billion
Bettencourt Meyers, 73, is the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal and a philanthropist.
She and her immediate family own more than one-third of the world’s largest cosmetics company.
Source of wealth: L’Oréal
Country: France
World rank: 20
1. Alice Walton — $134 billion
Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, ranks as the world’s richest woman.
Forbes reports that her fortune increased by $12 billion over the past year following a rise in Walmart’s share price.
She is an arts patron and philanthropist and has not taken an active role in the family-owned business.
Source of wealth: Walmart
Country: United States
World rank: 14