Alice Walton
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Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, waits onstage during the annual Walmart shareholders meeting event on June 1, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Photo by AFP |
Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, has a net worth of $101 billion, according to Forbes’ World’s Billionaire List 2025.
The 75-year-old American added almost $29 billion to her wealth this year thanks to the 40% surge in Walmart stock.
Walton has dedicated her life to art curation. She founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, which features works by American artists such as Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
This summer, a new medical school named after her will open in Bentonville, admitting its inaugural class of medical students.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family
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Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (L) arrives at the Elysee Palace for a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of late French President Georges Pompidou’s presidential victory, in Paris, on June 19, 2019. Photo by AFP |
In the second place is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and her family, with a combined net worth of $81.6 billion.
The French heiress of personal care corporation L’Oréal, who claimed the world’s richest woman title last year, saw her fortune decline 18% as falling sales, especially in China, drove shares down 20%.
The 71-year-old, after 28 years on the board, stepped down as vice chair in February. Her son, Jean-Victor Meyers, is set to assume the role by the end of this year.
Julia Koch & family
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Julia Koch attends The School Of American Ballet’s 2016 Winter Ball at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on March 14, 2016 in New York City. Photo by AFP |
The widow of industrialist David Koch, Julia Koch, 62, ranked as the world’s third richest woman with a net worth of $74.2 billion, up 16% from last year.
The U.S. citizen and her three children inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc., previously known as Koch Industries, the second-largest private company in the U.S., with operations in oil refining, agriculture, real estate, and other sectors.
Jacqueline Mars
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Jacqueline Mars, center, and her granddaughters, arrive for the formal Artist’s Dinner honoring the recipients of the 40th Annual Kennedy Center Honors hosted by United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Photo by AFP |
Jacqueline Mars, 85, maintained her position as the fourth richest woman globally with a fortune of $42.6 billion, a 10.6% growth.
Mars’ grandfather began selling butter cream candy from his kitchen in 1911. Today, Mars Incorporated owns popular brands such as M&Ms, Snickers, Wrigley’s, and Pedigree dog food.
The U.S. woman served on the company’s board for 20 years and is believed to share ownership with her brother John and her four nieces.
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
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Rafaela Aponte-Diamant. Photo by AFP |
Rounding up the list is Swiss citizen Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, who enjoyed a 14% growth in wealth to $37.7 billion last year.
The 80-year-old has been named the richest self-made woman on the Forbes list for three consecutive years.
The Swiss billionaire’s wealth stems from her 50% ownership in the Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest shipping line, which she co-founded with her husband in 1970 after meeting him during a boat trip to Capri, Italy.
Mediterranean Shipping Company now operates a fleet of 900 ships, with her husband Gianluigi holding the remaining 50% of the company.
