Women Billionaires Overview
Global Female Billionaires Stats
By April 4, 2023, the lineup of women billionaires hit 337, nudging up from 327 the year before (Wikipedia). Leading the charge of the wealthiest women is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, maintaining her title since 2021.
In the gigantic pool of 3,323 billionaires worldwide, about 13% (that’s 431) are women. This number’s sliding upwards thanks to a boost in women starting businesses, changing cultural vibes, and wealth getting passed down the generations.
Here’s a snapshot of the scene:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Female Billionaires (2023) | 337 |
| Total Female Billionaires (2022) | 327 |
| Total Worldwide Billionaires | 3,323 |
| Percentage of Female Billionaires | 13% (431) |
The US holds a leading spot, housing 92 women billionaires—over twice China’s tally (The CEO Magazine).
Other standout nations include:
- Sweden: Home to seven women billionaires, featuring Antonia Ax:son Johnson spotlighted for a net worth of about $10 billion (Yahoo Finance).
These figures highlight a significant rise and sway of women in the billionaire club.
Want more on countries with remarkable female billionaires? Check these out:
- List of African Countries
- List of European Countries
- List of Asian Countries
- List of Developed Countries
- List of BRICS Countries
- List of Countries by GDP
Wealth Origins
Peeking into where the riches come from for female billionaires, you’ll spot a big difference between those who were born into money and those who clawed their way up to the top by themselves.
Heiresses vs. Self-Made
All around the world, female billionaires hail from all sorts of backgrounds and stories. Quite a bunch got their wealth handed down, almost like a family tradition, while others rolled up their sleeves and made it happen from scratch. Fast forward to 2021, women made up just under 12% of all billionaires. A smidge over half got their money passed down, while a solid 30% mixed hand-me-downs with their own hustle.
| Wealth Origin | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Only Inherited | 38% |
| Mix of Inherited and Self-Made | 53.5% |
| Built It All | 16.9% |
Now, if you’re talking about those who’ve built their own empires, about a quarter of lady billionaires made it happen this way, in stark contrast to two-thirds of their male counterparts. Some big names in this space hail from the clothing rack or dealing in land. Six outta 24 self-made female billionaires are fashion queens like Rosalia Mera, Jin Sook Chang, Doris Fisher, Giuliana Benetton, Sara Blakely, and Tory Burch, making waves with fabrics and designs. On the other hand, four fashion their fortunes on land, with stars like Wu Yajun and Zhang Xin being household names in the land game in China (FinancesOnline).
Inherited Wealth vs. Self-Created
When you break it down, you see a good chunk of lady billionaires were given a head start, likely fueled by the sweeping Great Wealth Transfer, with women expecting to inherit a whopping $30 trillion in the next decade (NBC News). It seems the trend of inheriting wealth isn’t going away anytime soon.
| Wealth Origin | Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Partly Inherited | 75% |
| Fully Inherited | 38% |
| Built From Scratch | 25% |
Most male billionaires earned their cash through some good old-fashioned hard work, but female moguls often benefit from a financial safety net, which isn’t surprising given that a whopping three-quarters of these women inherited at least part of their bankroll, compared with only 5% of men (NBC News).
For more deets on where all these female billionaires are chilling around the globe, scope out the regional breakdown. Want to deep-dive into the money-grabbing industries? Check out our industry insights section for the scoop.
Regional Breakdown
Female Billionaires by Country
Taking a look at where these high-flying women are coming from, a few countries really make their mark, showing off their fair share of female billionaires. Skim through our handy lists to see how these regions stack up when it comes to wealthy women.
| Country | Number of Female Billionaires |
|---|---|
| United States | 92 |
| China | 46 |
| Germany | 32 |
| India | 12 |
| United Kingdom | 10 |
| France | 7 |
| Australia | 6 |
| Brazil | 4 |
| Canada | 4 |
| Italy | 3 |
Leading Countries for Female Billionaires
The United States is in the lead, showing off with 92 woman billionaires, that’s twice as many as in China. Next up in line is China, home to 46 wealthy women, making it the runner-up. Germany takes third with 32 female billionaires, proving its stronghold in economic prowess.
Other nations have a handful but still noteworthy numbers of female millionaires. Take for instance, India with 12, the UK with 10, and France with 7. Not too shabby!
Wealthiest Female Billionaires by Country
Checking out the richest ladies in these countries gives a peek into their outlandish fortunes and the businesses they rule.
| Country | Wealthiest Female Billionaire | Net Worth (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Julia Koch & family | $59 billion |
| Germany | Susanne Klatten | $27.1 billion |
| France | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers | $96 billion |
| Australia | Gina Rinehart | $27.1 billion |
| China | Yang Huiyan | $23.5 billion |
| India | Savitri Jindal | $14.6 billion |
In the US, Julia Koch and her crew sit pretty at the top with a net worth of $59 billion, closely followed by Alice Walton at $57.5 billion, and then Jacqueline Mars at a cool $38.3 billion. Over in Germany, Susanne Klatten leads with $27.1 billion, mostly thanks to her stake in the pharma giant Atlanta AG. Meanwhile, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers in France outshines them all as the world’s richest woman, sitting on an astonishing $96 billion fortune.
If you’d like to snoop into more regions, head over to our detailed pages on the list of european countries, list of asian countries, or dive into specifics with the list of african countries.
Industry Insights
Sectors of Female Wealth
These powerhouse women are making a big splash in the money pool across a range of businesses. From clothing and land to health and tech, they’re staking their claim and making it rain in fashion, retail, media, and entertainment. Let’s break it down and see where female billionaires are topping the charts.
Technology Sector Success
Tech is getting a makeover with more female stars entering the scene. This once boys-only club is now getting a taste of girl power as women lead exciting new startups and helm major companies. They’ve cracked the code on turning tech advancements into billion-dollar ventures.
| Billionaire | Country | Company | Net Worth (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judy Faulkner | United States | Epic Systems | $6.7 Billion |
| Zhang Xin | China | SOHO China | $3.5 Billion |
Wanna geek out about countries nailing it in tech? Hit up our articles on the list of developing countries and the list of brics countries.
Fashion and Retail Trends
If fashion were a lottery, some of these women just hit the jackpot. The clothing game has been a goldmine for entrepreneurs like Rosalia Mera, Jin Sook Chang, and Sara Blakely. These ladies are building billion-dollar brands with killer styles (FinancesOnline).
| Billionaire | Country | Company | Net Worth (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Sook Chang | United States | Forever 21 | $1.5 Billion |
| Sara Blakely | United States | Spanx | $1.2 Billion |
Dig in more about female fashion moguls in wealthy nations on our list of developed countries page.
Media and Entertainment Balances
The spotlight isn’t just for movie stars – female billionaires are stealing the scene in media and entertainment, too. Names like Oprah Winfrey and Elaine Wynn haven’t just played the fame game; they’ve owned it, building massive enterprises in TV and hospitality.
| Billionaire | Country | Company | Net Worth (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oprah Winfrey | United States | Harpo Productions | $2.7 Billion |
| Elaine Wynn | United States | Wynn Resorts | $2.1 Billion |
For more juicy tales from media hotspots, check our stories on the list of richest countries and the list of countries by gdp.
These fields give us a peek into the various ways women have hustled to the top. Knowing the sectors where they earn big helps us see how different markets can fuel women’s wealth in every corner of the globe.
Impactful Industries
Finance and Investments Fortunes
In the world of making big bucks, finance and investments come in as quite the game changer, especially for women turning self-made billionaire. As Forbes spills the beans, it’s the fourth top money machine for these powerhouse women, with ten of them rolling in sizable fortunes here. They’ve sharpened their skills in managing loads of cash, throwing their weight around in banking, venture capital, and asset management, making names and a few dollars.
| Industry | Number of Female Billionaires |
|---|---|
| Finance and Investments | 10 |
| Technology | 28 |
| Healthcare | 3 |
| Food and Beverage | N/A |
Wanna see which countries are cashing in with female financial leaders? Check out our list of countries by GDP for a few surprises.
Healthcare Sector Success
Healthcare isn’t just about healing folks; it’s lining pockets too, especially for some self-made women billionaires! Of the 24 remarkable women, three owe their fortunes to health biz smarts, including heavy-hitters like Gayle Cook, Judy Faulkner, and Dulce Pugliese de Godoy Bueno.
These brains have disrupted areas like medical software, drug-making, and patient care services, making a mark and a mint in the process.
| Name | Industry | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Gayle Cook | Medical Devices | $9.2 billion |
| Judy Faulkner | Medical Software | $6.7 billion |
| Dulce Pugliese de Godoy Bueno | Healthcare Services | $1.5 billion |
Want the lowdown on countries backing lady healthcare innovators? Swing by our list of developed countries.
Food and Beverage Ventures
Food and drink ain’t just fuel; they’re serious green for female billionaires who whip up wealth through flavors, chains, and service. Though exact numbers are under wraps, it’s clear that this tasty industry spices up the canvas for women-led enterprises.
| Industry | Number of Female Billionaires |
|---|---|
| Food and Beverage | N/A |
| Finance and Investments | 10 |
| Technology | 28 |
| Healthcare | 3 |
Curious about which spots are hoppin’ with food success? Peek at our list of countries in the Middle East and list of countries in APAC for a taste.
By getting up close with these powerhouse sectors, we can follow the trail of female billionaires making waves in their bank accounts. For a richer dive into lady entrepreneur magic, dig into our slick list of European countries and how women are busting through money barriers.
If you’re itching for more, saunter over to our Fashion and Retail Trends to see what’s what in another sector of female fortune-building.