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MPWMost Powerful Women

These Are the 10 Richest Women in the World

By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
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By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 21, 2017, 2:16 PM ET

On Monday, Forbes released a list of the world’s wealthiest women, and Liliane Bettencourt of France has snagged the No. 1 spot yet again.

Bettencourt, 94, has a net worth of $39.5 billion, according to Forbes—making her the richest woman in the world. Nearly all her wealth comes from owing a third of the cosmetic company L’Oreal, which her father founded in 1907. Though her worth is up $3.4 billion from last year, she’s only No. 14 on Forbes‘ World’s Billionaires list, down from her No. 11 spot last year.

But her No. 14 ranking is nothing to scoff at. Bettencourt is ranked among the 2,042 other people who made up this year’s list—227 of whom were women, notes Forbes. (Also worth noting: The 2017 list marks a record-high for female billionaires—the number grew by 25 women this year.)

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The French heiress is followed somewhat closely by Alice Walton, the sole daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. Walton, who boasts a whopping $33.8 billion, retains her No. 2 spot from 2016, though her wealth has grown by $1.5 billion this year. Jacqueline Mars, the granddaughter of the famed candy maker Frank Mars, comes in at No. 3 at $27 billion—the same ranking she held last year. Mars’ net worth grew by $3.6 billion after falling to $23.4 the previous year.

Below is a list of the 10 richest women in the world, per Forbes’ rankings :

1. Liliane Bettencourt

Net worth: $39.5 billion

2. Alice Walton

Net worth: $33.8 billion

3. Jacqueline Mars

Net worth: $27 billion

4. Maria Franca Fissolo

Net worth: $25.2 billion

5. Susanne Klatten

Net worth: $20.4 billion

6. Laurene Powell Jobs

Net worth: $20 billion

7. Gina Rinehart

Net worth: $15 billion

8. Abigail Johnson

Net worth: $14.4 billion

9. Iris Fontbona

Net worth: $13.7 billion

10. Beate Hesiter

Net worth: $13.6 billion

About the Author
By Madeline Farber
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