The Changing Fortunes Of The World's 5 Richest Female Billionaires

There were no new faces among the top five richest women between April 2020 and January 2022, but most did change their ranking. All five increased their wealth over 21 months, raising their combined wealth by almost $100 billion, and all acquired their fortunes by inheritance or divorce.

- MOHAMED RASHED ALKHALIFA

1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family

Source of wealth: L’Oreal

April 2020 World’s Richest Women rank: 2 • $48.9 billion • $88.6 billion

Change in wealth: $39.7 billion

Bettencourt Meyers was the world’s richest woman as of January 12, 2022, and the 13th richest person globally. The granddaughter of the founder of L’Oreal, alongside her family she owns 33% of the company’s stock. Bettencourt Meyers serves as the chairwoman of the family’s holding company and has been on the board since 1997. She became the heiress to the company in 1997, when her mother, who was the richest woman in the world at that time, passed away. In December 2021, L’Oreal agreed to repurchase 4% of its own stocks owned by Nestle.

2. Alice Walton

Source of wealth: Walmart

April 2020 World’s Richest Women rank: 1 • $54.4 billion • $66 billion

Change in wealth: $11.6 billion