The world's wealthiest women, such as Alice Walton, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, and Julia Koch, manage vast empires spanning multiple industries. While some are accomplished businesswomen, others inherited fortunes and continue to expand their legacies. Despite a growing number of female billionaires, women remain a minority among the global elite. This article lists the top 10 richest women in the world in 2026, detailing their net worth and sources of wealth.
Key Takeaways
The wealthiest women have acquired their fortunes through diverse means, including investments, inheritance, and innovation. Most hold wealth across industries like beauty, retail, steel, sports, and philanthropy. Alice Walton and Françoise Bettencourt Meyers have consistently ranked among the wealthiest women for years.
Top 10 Richest Women in the World in 2026
According to Forbes and other reliable sources, here are the wealthiest women by net worth in 2026. Note that the list may exclude those whose net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- Alice Walton – $136.4 billion
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family – $92.4 billion
- Julia Koch & family – $81.2 billion
- Jacqueline Mars – $46.6 billion
- Rafaela Aponte-Diamant – $43.6 billion
- Abigail Johnson – $40.2 billion
- Savitri Jindal & family – $39.5 billion
- Miriam Adelson & family – $36.1 billion
- MacKenzie Scott – $33.7 billion
- Marilyn Simons & family – $32.5 billion
10. Marilyn Simons & family – $32.5 billion
Marilyn Simons, born on 4 January 1951 in the United States, is the widow of hedge fund investor Jim Simons, who died in May 2024 at age 86. She chairs the $4.5 billion Simons Foundation and serves on the boards of the Stony Brook Foundation and Learning Spring Elementary School. Her net worth is $32.5 billion, according to Forbes.
9. MacKenzie Scott – $33.7 billion
MacKenzie Scott, born 7 April 1970 in San Francisco, California, is a novelist, philanthropist, and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She received a 4% stake in Amazon after their divorce. In May 2019, she signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of her wealth to charity. Her net worth is $33.7 billion.
8. Miriam Adelson & family – $36.1 billion
Miriam Adelson, born 10 October 1945 in Mandatory Palestine, is an Israeli-American physician, businesswoman, and political donor. She is the widow of Sheldon Adelson, former CEO of Las Vegas Sands, who died in 2021. In late 2023, she bought a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks NBA team. Her net worth is $36.1 billion.
7. Savitri Jindal & family – $39.5 billion
Savitri Jindal, born 20 March 1950 in Tinsukia, India, is a businesswoman and politician. She is chairperson emeritus of the OP Jindal Group and president of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College. She runs the conglomerate with her four sons. Her net worth is $39.5 billion.
6. Abigail Johnson – $40.2 billion
Abigail Johnson, born 19 December 1961 in Boston, Massachusetts, has been CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014 and chair since 2016. Her grandfather founded the company in 1946. Her net worth is $40.2 billion.
5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant – $43.6 billion
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, born 26 March 1945 in Haifa, Israel, co-owns MSC, the world's largest shipping line, with her spouse Gianluigi. They started with a $200,000 loan in 1970. Her net worth is $43.6 billion.
4. Jacqueline Mars – $46.6 billion
Jacqueline Mars, born 10 October 1939 in the United Kingdom, is an heiress and investor who runs Mars Inc., the candy company founded by her grandparents. She owns about one-third of Mars. Her net worth is $46.6 billion.
3. Julia Koch & family – $81.2 billion
Julia Koch, born 12 April 1962 in Des Moines, Iowa, inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. from her husband David Koch, who died in 2019. In June 2024, she paid about $700 million for a 15% stake in BSE Global, owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets. Her net worth is $81.2 billion.
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family – $92.4 billion
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, born 10 July 1953 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is the granddaughter of L'Oreal founder Eugène Schueller. She and her family own more than a third of L'Oreal. She has served on the board since 1997. Her net worth is $92.4 billion.
1. Alice Walton – $136.4 billion
Alice Walton, born 7 October 1949 in Newport, Arkansas, is a Walmart heiress and the richest woman in the world. Her net worth is $136.4 billion. She opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in 2011 and focuses on art curation. Her wealth comes from her stake in Walmart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oprah the richest woman in the world?
Oprah Winfrey is the richest Black woman in the world, with a net worth of $3.4 billion, but not the overall richest.
Is Taylor Swift richer than Oprah?
No, Taylor Swift's net worth is $1.8 billion, nearly half of Oprah's wealth. Taylor is the richest female musician but not richer than Oprah.
Who is the richest person in 2026?
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world as of February 2026, with a net worth of $815.6 billion.
Who is the richest girl under 18?
The richest girls under 18 include Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Valentina Paloma Pinault, Blue Ivy Carter, Stormi Webster, and North West.
Who is the youngest richest woman?
Livia Voigt is arguably the youngest female billionaire, with a net worth of $1.3 billion from shares in WEG.
Who is the richest female in the world?
Alice Walton is the wealthiest woman, with a net worth of $136.4 billion from her Walmart inheritance.
