Richest Woman in the World

I have noticed that when it comes to naming richest person in the world, men are the forerunners. This is one area where all automatically assume the richest person to be a man. The first name that comes to our mind is Bill Gates and we never bother to ask who is the richest woman in the world.

Most of my friends think, if a woman is married to a rich guy, she automatically becomes the richest woman in the world. I totally disagree with those who think woman are just gold diggers. There are many self-made women who have created empires for themselves and earned the title of richest woman in the world. A few may have inherited huge fortune, but they have doubled the inheritance with their sheer hard work and talent. It is easy to inherit a fortune, but very difficult to maintain the responsibility that comes with it and help it grow more. So, those still living in the dream world, where men rule the world and woman their kitchens, should sit back and introspect. The following list of the top 10 richest women in the world, will surely prove them wrong.

Top 10 Richest Woman in the World

Let us now begin naming the members of the fairer sex, who should no longer be considered as the weaker sex. Most of these women have inherited their vast fortunes. And by vast fortunes I don't just mean $100,000, but millions and millions of dollars. Call these women lucky, but they are no pin-up dolls. They have managed these millions of dollars and converted them into billions. They are not only pro-efficient in managing their financial obligations, but also are in complete control of their personal lives. They have the ability to face any situation coming their way and emerging out not only a winner, but stronger and yes, richer than before. So, let's begin our countdown of the top 10 richest women in the world.

1. Christy Walton

Wealth: $22.5 billion
Source: Wal-Mart
Citizen: United States of America

Christy Ruth Walton, the wife of late John T. Walton inherited a fortune of $15.7 billion after the death of her husband. She was considered as the 12th richest person on earth according to Forbes World's Billionaires. However, her wealth grew leaps and bounds making her climb the ladder of world's richest woman. Today, she rules the #1 position of the richest woman in the world.

2. Liliane Bettencourt

Wealth: $US23.5 billion
Source: L'Oréal
Citizen: France

The French heiress, daughter of L'Oreal founder Eugene Scheueller, is the wealthiest woman in all of Europe and the second richest woman in the world. She is also the second richest person in France after Bernard Arnault. And to add to the list, she is ranked 15th on the Forbes list of wealthiest people in the world. Phew!! At the age of 89, that's sure is a lot of money to fall back on for a peaceful retirement.

3. Alice Walton

Wealth: $US21.2 billion
Source: Wal-Mart
Citizen: United States of America

Alice Louise Walton is the heiress to the Wal-Mart fortune as she is the daughter of the founder Sam Walton and Helen Walton. She is the third richest woman in the world after her sister-in-law Christy Walton and Liliane Bettencourt. It is the Walton women who rule the roost of the richest femme fatale in the corporate world. According to the Forbes list, she is the ranks as the 21st wealthiest person in the world.

4. Iris Fontbona & Family

Wealth: $US19.2 billion
Source: Copper mines, lumber
Citizen: Chile

This one mystery women from Chile who was the second wife of Chilean billionaire Andronico Luksic. He was the richest man in Chile, the fourth richest person in Latin America and ranks 27 on the Forbes list of billionaires. There is not much information about Iris Fontbona available in the web world and therefore, her age and photographs remain unknown.

5. Susanne Klatten

Wealth: $US14.6 billion
Source: BMW and Pharmaceutical and chemicals manufacturing
Citizen: Germany

Sussane Klatten inherited 12.50% stake in BMW and 50.1% stake in a pharmaceutical and chemicals manufacturing company in Atlanta after her father's death. She is the richest woman in Germany and the 44th richest person in the world.

6. Birgit Rausing

Wealth: $US14.0 billion
Source: Tetra Laval packaging
Citizen: Sweden

Dr. Birgit Rausing, is an art historian from Sweden. Wondering how an art historian has stumbled into the list of top 10 wealthiest people in the world? Well, she inherited the packaging giant Tetra Laval after the death of Gad Rausing, her husband. She had even taken over a French company Sidel SA and holds about 80% share of the packaging industry. She is the 2nd wealthiest person in Sweden and 49 in the Forbes list of billionaires.

7. Anne Cox Chambers

Wealth: $US13.4 billion
Source: Cox Enterprise (media)
Citizen: United States of America

The owner of Cox Enterprise, this 92 year of lady is the 10th richest woman in the world. She inherited the company from her father who was a newspaper publisher. She has helped Cox Communications become the third largest cable company in US under her guidance. Her empire is not only includes newspapers but has spread its roots to television, radio, cable television, car auction (Manheim), AutoTrader.com, etc. She is the 23rd richest women in United States and ranks 53rd on Forbes Billionaires list.

8. Savitri Jindal

Wealth: $US13.2 billion
Source: Jindal Steel
Citizen: India

This is the 7th richest woman in India, who is also the 56th richest person in the world and the 8th richest women in the world. She was the non-executive member of her husband's company, a steel and power conglomerate. After the death of her husband, she inherited the fortune at the age of 60. Not only that, she is the member of the Indian National Congress and is a mother of 9 children!

9. Abigail Johnson

Wealth: $US11.3 billion
Source: Fidelity investments
Citizen: United States of America

Abigail Pierrepont, is the President of Fidelity Investments Personal and Workplace Investing. This company was founded by her father and she joined the company at the age of 25. She is believed to be the successor to her father and ranks at #69 in the list of world's billionaires, 29th richest women in United States and the 70th most powerful woman in the world.

10. Jacqueline Mars

Wealth: $US10 billion
Source: Candy and pet food
Citizen: United States of America

The queen of candy and pet food, Jacqueline Mars is the world's 9th richest woman in the world. She is owns the world-famous confectionery company selling Mars, Three Musketeers, Skittles, Twix, M&M's, Milky Way and Snickers. Her pet food company is surpassing her confectionery company with products like Pedigree for dogs and Whiskas for cats. She is the 32nd richest lady in United States and ranks 81st in the Forbes list of billionaires.

Is Oprah the Richest Woman in the World?

Your question has just been answered in the above list. Chirsty Walton, is the answer to the question who are the richest women in America as well as the world. All those who are die-hard Oprah Winfrey followers would love to know where does their idol stand in list of rich people.

Oprah Gail Winfrey, is an American television host, actress, producer and a well-known philanthropist. She is the richest African-American of the 20th century and was also once christened as the world's only black billionaire. According to the Forbes list of world's most powerful celebrities, Oprah is ranked at #2, just after Angelina Jolie. She is worth $US 2.7 billion and a super powerful woman in her own right. Forbes ranks her as the 420th billionaire in the world and 138 richest person in Unites States. She ranks 64th in the list of powerful people and 14th in the list of powerful women!

She is a self-made woman, who had not inherited a single penny of her vast fortune. She is proof enough that women do not just earn the title of richest woman in the world by inheriting huge sums of money. Oprah and many other women in the following list of self-made richest women in the world, stand as a testimony that women too can earn their bread and butter too!

1. Johanna Quandt
Wealth: $US9.8 billion
Source: BMW
Citizen: Germany

2. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler
Wealth: $US9.8 billion
Source: Ball bearings (owns jointly with her sun Georg Schaeffler)
Citizen: Germany

3. Georgina Rinehart
Wealth: $US9 billion
Source: Mining
Citizen: Australia

4. Shari Arison
Wealth: $US5.1 billion
Source: Carnival Cruises, Bank Hapoalim (Israel)
Citizen: Israel

5. Rosalie Mera
Wealth: $US4.2 billion
Source: Clothing
Citizen: Spain

6. Yang Huiyan
Wealth: $US4.1 billion
Source: Real Estate
Citizen: China

7. Elizabeth Mohn & family
Wealth: $US3.8 billion
Source: Media
Citizen: Germany

8. Friede Springer
Wealth: $US3.7 billion
Source: Publishing
Citizen: Germany

9. Ann Walton Kroenke
Wealth: $US3.3 billion
Source: Wal-Mart
Citizen: United States

10. Liselott Persson
Wealth: $US3.4 billion
Source: Hennes & Mauritz
Citizen: Sweden

This was a list of top 10 richest women in the world. Some of them are self-made women and few who have converted their inherited fortunes into mines of gold. These women prove that they are no less than their male counterparts. There are many more women who may have not got mentioned in this list. The richest women in the world bear witness to the old saying, 'Beauty with Brains'. I hope you have enjoyed reading about these powerful and richest woman in the world as much as I have enjoyed writing about them.