Richest women in the world: the ranking updated to 2025
Who are the richest women in the world in 2025? Have there been any changes at the top compared to previous years? Below is the updated ranking based on net worth, which is calculated by subtracting liabilities from the total value of assets owned, including real estate, investments, cash, and businesses.
To compile this list of the world’s richest women, we refer to data from Forbes, which annually updates its rankings of the wealthiest billionaires. It’s also worth noting the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which provides a real-time snapshot of billionaire wealth. As a result, the rankings of some of these women may fluctuate throughout the year.
Here are the 9 richest women in the world in 2025.
9. Marilyn Simons
Marilyn Simons, the widow of the renowned mathematician and investor Jim Simons, who founded the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, served as the president of the Simons Foundation until 2021. The Simons Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organisations in the United States.
The foundation provides scholarships and grants to support research and development in four main areas: science and mathematics, autism and neuroscience, society and culture, and life sciences.
8. Miriam Adelson
After the death of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, in 2021, Miriam Adelson inherited the majority of shares in the casino giant Las Vegas Sands. The Adelson family owns five casinos in Macau and one in Singapore, which are among the world’s wealthiest locations. With assets totalling $32.1 billion, Miriam is also a prominent philanthropist who has donated over $1 billion to medical research to date.
7. Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson is the seventh richest woman in the world, with assets totalling $32.7 million. She serves as the face of Fidelity Investments, the third-largest investment fund in the world, which manages approximately $5.3 trillion in assets. In January and July 2024, Fidelity, along with other investment funds, launched two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum, respectively. This event marked a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency industry. Additionally, Fidelity recently announced the launch of two stablecoins in collaboration with World Liberty Financial, a decentralised finance (DeFi) project supported by the Trump family.
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6. Savitri Jindal
Savitri Jindal, with assets totalling USD 35.5 billion, is the richest woman in India. She serves as the chairman of the Jindal Group, a major player in the steel, energy, and infrastructure sectors. In addition to her business ventures, she is also involved in politics. Following the death of her husband in 2005, she was elected to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, representing the Hisar constituency.
5. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant and her husband, Gianluigi, co-founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in 1970. Due to their vision, MSC has become the largest shipping line in the world. Rafaela currently oversees a fleet of approximately 900 ships, with assets valued at $37.7 billion.
4. Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars, the fourth-richest woman in the world and heir to the confectionery and food empire Mars, Inc., has a fortune of approximately $42.6 billion. She runs the family business alongside her brother, John. Mars Inc. is renowned for its popular snack brands, including M&M’s and Snickers, as well as the pet food brand Pedigree.
3. Julia Koch
Julia Koch and her children inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries after the death of her husband, David Koch, in 2019. With assets totalling $74.2 billion, Julia Koch now leads one of the world’s largest private conglomerates, the second-largest in the United States. The company operates in various sectors, including oil, paper, and medical technology.
2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress of the cosmetics giant L’Oréal, has lost her title as the world’s richest woman after holding it for five years. However, her fortune remains substantial at approximately $81.6 billion. She owns 35% of the L’Oréal group, which has experienced a 20% drop in share value this year due to a significant decline in sales, particularly in China. Additionally, after 20 years, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers has announced her retirement from the company’s board, handing over the reins to her son, Jean-Victor Meyers.
1. Alice Walton
Alice Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, has seen her wealth increase to $101 billion, largely due to a 40% rise in the company’s stock value. Unlike her siblings, she has not taken an active role in managing the family business; instead, she has focused on her passion for art. Walton founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which features works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Mark Rothko.
This ranking highlights how some of the world’s richest women have diversified their investments across various sectors, including technology, fashion, mining, and art. Whether they are successful entrepreneurs or heirs to substantial fortunes, these women continue to make a lasting impact in the global business world.
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