Meet the 10 richest women in the world in 2025

See who made the list and how they built their empires.

The landscape of global wealth is constantly shifting, but one thing remains clear: women are making major waves.

From tech and finance to shipping and steel, these billionaires have not only inherited legacies but have expanded them — or built their fortunes entirely from the ground up.

In 2025, the ten richest women in the world represent a stunning range of industries and causes, shaping everything from global commerce to philanthropy.

Their influence goes far beyond their bank accounts — they’re innovators, leaders, and changemakers in their own right.

Here’s the definitive 2025 ranking of the richest women on the planet, according to Forbes:

10. Melinda French Gates – $30.4 billion

Source of Wealth: Microsoft, investments | Citizenship: U.S.

Melinda French Gates experienced a $19.3 billion surge in her fortune this year, largely due to Forbes revising their estimate of her 2021 divorce settlement from Bill Gates, now pegged at $25 billion. In June 2024, she stepped down from the Gates Foundation to focus entirely on Pivotal Ventures, her investment and philanthropic firm dedicated to empowering women and driving social change globally. A consistent figure among America’s top philanthropists, she and Bill Gates have given an estimated $47.7 billion over their lifetimes.

9. Marilyn Simons & family – $31 billion

Source of Wealth: Hedge funds | Citizenship: U.S.

The widow of legendary investor Jim Simons (who passed away in May 2024), Marilyn Simons now controls the Simons Foundation, which the couple founded to support scientific research and education. Deeply committed to philanthropy, Simons serves on the boards of institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the East Harlem Scholar Academies, and chairs the Women’s Leadership Council at Stony Brook University, a mentorship initiative she founded in 2014.

8. Miriam Adelson & family – $32.1 billion

Source of Wealth: Casinos | Citizenship: U.S.

Miriam Adelson and her family own over half of Las Vegas Sands, the casino empire behind iconic properties such as the Venetian Macao and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. A physician by training, Adelson dedicates much of her time and resources to fighting drug addiction. She is also known for being a prolific donor to the GOP. Her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, founded the company in 1989.

7. Abigail Johnson – $32.7 billion

Source of Wealth: Fidelity | Citizenship: U.S.

As chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments, Abigail Johnson controls about 28.5% of the company founded by her grandfather in 1946. After working summers at Fidelity during college, Johnson joined full-time in 1988 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming CEO in 2014. Her leadership has continued to grow the firm into one of the largest financial services companies in the world.

6. Savitri Jindal & family – $35.5 billion

Source of Wealth: Steel | Citizenship: India

India’s richest woman, Savitri Jindal, oversees the sprawling Jindal Group, a conglomerate active in steel, power, cement, and infrastructure. The group was originally founded by her husband, Om Prakash Jindal, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2005. Four of her nine children are actively involved in running the businesses today, keeping the Jindal empire thriving.

5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant – $37.7 billion

Source of Wealth: Shipping | Citizenship: Switzerland

The richest self-made woman on the Forbes list for three consecutive years, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant owns a 50% stake in the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which she cofounded with her husband in 1970 after meeting him on a boat trip to Capri. Today, MSC commands a fleet of 900 ships, making it the largest shipping line in the world. Her husband, Gianluigi Aponte, owns the other half.

4. Jacqueline Mars – $42.6 billion

Source of Wealth: Candy, pet food | Citizenship: U.S.

Jacqueline Mars inherited her fortune from Mars Incorporated, the candy and pet food giant founded by her grandfather. From M&M’s and Snickers to Pedigree dog food, Mars Inc. has become a staple in households around the world. Jacqueline served on the company’s board for two decades and shares ownership with her brother John and her four nieces.

3. Julia Koch & family – $74.2 billion

Source of Wealth: Koch, Inc. | Citizenship: U.S.

After inheriting a 42% stake in Koch Industries (now Koch, Inc.) following her husband David Koch’s death in 2019, Julia Koch saw her fortune swell by nearly $10 billion this year. Koch, Inc. is the second-largest private company in the U.S., with interests spanning oil refining, agriculture, and real estate.

2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family – $81.6 billion

Source of Wealth: L’Oréal | Citizenship: France

The L’Oréal heiress was the world’s richest woman last year but saw her fortune dip in 2025 due to slowing sales, particularly in China, which pushed shares down by 20%. After 28 years on the company’s board, Bettencourt Meyers announced her retirement as vice chair this February. Her son, Jean-Victor Meyers, is set to take her place by year’s end, marking a generational shift in leadership.

1. Alice Walton – $101 billion

Source of Wealth: Walmart | Citizenship: U.S.

Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is the richest woman in the world in 2025, crossing the $100 billion mark for the first time. She added $28.7 billion to her fortune this year, fueled by a 40% surge in Walmart’s stock. Outside of business, Walton has poured her energy into the arts, founding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. This year, she expands her legacy even further as a new medical school bearing her name opens its doors to its inaugural class.