Top 10 Richest Women in the World in 2025

Introduction

The year 2025 was a period of major upheavals and profound transformations worldwide. Geopolitical tensions, particularly between major powers like the United States and China, created uncertainty and weakened some supply chains. At the same time, energy prices soared, impacting heavy industry, transportation, and citizens’ daily lives. This instability highlighted the need to rethink our infrastructure and production methods.

But 2025 was not just a year of challenges. Technological innovations, especially in artificial intelligence and renewable energy, opened new opportunities. Many companies saw spectacular growth potential, whether through AI-focused cloud services or green energy projects. Those who adapted quickly, invested wisely, and leveraged new technologies were able to seize the advantage.

Despite these turbulences, some entrepreneurs and investors managed to grow and consolidate their fortunes. Figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault leveraged new economic trends to strengthen their empires. But 2025 was not an exclusively male-dominated year in terms of wealth. Women also stood out through their achievements and ability to generate colossal fortunes, proving that leadership and innovation know no gender. Their success and opportunities were shared equally with men: many women contributed decisively to these successes and transformations.

Alice Walton: A Museum Serving Art and Community

In 2011, Alice Walton founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, with the mission of making art accessible to everyone. The museum, which attracts over 5 million visitors, is recognized for its collection of American art, ranging from colonial works to contemporary creations.

In 2025, the museum announced a major 100,000-square-foot expansion, planned for June 2026, aimed at enriching the storytelling of American history through art. This expansion includes significant donations, including 200 works from collectors Candace and Michael Humphreys, as well as 18 works by female artists donated by Olivia and Tom Walton.

Integration of Art and Wellness

Alice Walton also initiated the creation of the Crystal Bridges Campus for Art and Wellness, a 134-acre site combining art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness. This campus houses the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, an innovative medical school integrating the arts and humanities into medical training, with buildings inaugurated in 2025.

Awards and Philanthropic Engagement

In recognition of her philanthropic leadership, Alice Walton was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025. Through the Alice L. Walton Foundation, she supports initiatives in art, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

Wealth Ranking

According to the Forbes 400 list, Alice Walton is the 15th richest person in the United States and the 3rd richest in Texas, with a fortune of $110.1 billion.

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers: L’Oréal Heiress, Influential Businesswoman, and Philanthropist

Financial Profile and Leadership

In 2025, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the world’s second-richest woman, with an estimated fortune of $98 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. She owns approximately 35% of L’Oréal, the parent company of iconic brands like Lancôme, Maybelline, and Garnier. Under her leadership, L’Oréal saw a 17% increase in its stock in 2025, strengthening its position as a global leader in the cosmetics industry.

After 28 years on L’Oréal’s board, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers chose to step down in April 2025. Her son, Jean-Victor Meyers, succeeded her as vice-chairman, ensuring continuity in family governance.

Philanthropic Engagement

President of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, she actively supports projects in culture, science, and humanitarian work. In 2019, she donated $226 million for the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the devastating fire. Passionate about literature and mythology, she has also authored several works on Greek mythology and Judeo-Christian relations.

Sustainability and Innovation

Under her direction, L’Oréal has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and innovation, investing in environmentally friendly technologies and implementing initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining its leadership in the beauty sector.

Global Ranking

As of September 2025, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers ranks 18th on Bloomberg’s global billionaire list, ahead of figures like Mukesh Ambani but behind Alice Walton, currently the world’s richest woman.

Julia Koch: Widow of David Koch and Heiress of Koch Industries

Financial Profile and Inheritance

In 2025, Julia Koch holds an estimated fortune of $74.2–$81.2 billion, according to Forbes and Bloomberg. She and her three children inherited 42% of Koch Industries after her husband’s death in 2019. The diversified conglomerate operates in sectors such as chemicals, energy, manufacturing, and consumer products, with a private valuation exceeding $100 billion.

Strategic Diversification

Under her leadership, the Koch family expanded investments beyond traditional industry. In 2024, they acquired a 15% stake in BSE Global, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, for about $688 million. In September 2025, Julia Koch led the acquisition of a 10% stake in the New York Giants, a transaction valuing the team at $10.25 billion—a record for an NFL franchise.

Philanthropic Engagement

Julia Koch chairs the David H. Koch Foundation, supporting medical research, education, and the arts. In 2024, she donated $75 million for the construction of the Julia Koch Family Ambulatory Care Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, a 77,000-square-foot outpatient facility.

Presence in New York

A resident of New York, Julia Koch is recognized as the city’s wealthiest woman, holding several prestigious properties and consolidating her influence on the city’s economic and philanthropic scene.

Global Ranking

As of September 2025, Julia Koch is among the world’s top 20 richest people, according to Bloomberg, solidifying her status as one of the most influential women globally.

Jacqueline Mars: Heiress of Mars, Incorporated

Financial Profile

In 2025, Jacqueline Mars has an estimated fortune of $42.2 billion, according to the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. She owns about one-third of Mars, Incorporated, a family business founded by her grandfather Frank C. Mars in 1911. Under her family’s management, the company achieved $54.6 billion in annual revenue in 2024, with diversification in food, confectionery, and pet care sectors.

Diversification and Sustainable Strategy

Under Jacqueline Mars’ leadership, Mars, Incorporated has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and innovation, implementing initiatives to reduce carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable agriculture as part of the “Sustainable in a Generation” strategy.

Philanthropic Engagement

Jacqueline Mars is known for her philanthropy. She serves as emeritus chair of the Washington National Opera board and sits on the board of the National Sporting Library and Fine Arts Museum. She supports environmental conservation, education, and the arts. In 2011, she donated $1.25 million to house the sculpture “Angels Unawares” by Timothy Schmalz at the Catholic University of America.

Personal Life

Jacqueline Mars resides in The Plains, Virginia, where she owns an equestrian farm protected by the Land Trust of Virginia. She is known for her discreet lifestyle and commitment to environmental and equestrian culture.

Global Ranking

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, she ranks among the world’s top 20 richest people, consolidating her status as one of the most influential women globally.

Rafaela Aponte-Diamant: Swiss-Italian Entrepreneur and Maritime Industry Leader

Financial Profile and Leadership

In 2025, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant’s fortune is estimated at $37.7 billion, according to Forbes. Together with her husband Gianluigi Aponte, she owns 50% of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest privately-owned shipping company. Founded in 1970 with a single ship, MSC has become a global conglomerate operating in shipping, cruises, and logistics, with €86.4 billion in revenue in 2022.

Remarkable Entrepreneurial Rise

Rafaela Aponte-Diamant and her husband met in the 1960s when she was a passenger on a ship he commanded. In 1970, they borrowed $200,000 to acquire their first vessel, the Patricia, and launched MSC. Within nine years, their fleet grew to 17 ships, mainly operating on less-traveled routes between Europe and Africa.

Aesthetic and Family Engagement

She plays a key role in MSC’s visual identity, overseeing cruise ship interior design. She is also involved in company management alongside her children: Diego Aponte, group president, and Alexa Aponte Vago, CFO.

Global Impact and Recognition

In 2025, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant ranks among the world’s top 20 richest people, according to Bloomberg. She represents exceptional entrepreneurial success, having built her fortune without prior inheritance, and remains a prominent figure in the international maritime sector.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 2025 clearly demonstrates that wealth and influence are no longer exclusively male domains. These five women prove that vision, strategy, and engagement can transform inheritances or businesses into true financial empires. Their success inspires future generations of female entrepreneurs and highlights the importance of bold and innovative management in a constantly changing world.