The 5 Richest Women in the World in 2025: How Did They Build Their Wealth?The list of the world's wealthiest women has been traditionally dominated by heiresses who inherited their fortunes from family businesses or through marriage. However, recent years

In 2025, women continue to strengthen their positions among the world's wealthiest people. They not only inherited vast fortunes but also multiplied them by developing businesses and investing in promising industries. Let's look at the 5 richest women in the world and understand how they built their fortunes.

1. Alice Walton ($110 billion, Walmart, USA) 🛒

Alice Walton is the daughter of Sam Walton, founder of the largest supermarket chain Walmart.

👉 How did she get rich?

• Inherited Walmart shares after her father's death.
• Actively invested in art and real estate.
• Expanded family business assets through retail innovations.

📌 Interesting fact: Unlike her brothers, Alice doesn't directly manage Walmart. Her passion is art, and she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum, which houses unique artworks.

2. Julia Koch ($73.4 billion, Koch Industries, USA) 🏭

Julia Koch is the heir to Koch Industries, one of the largest private companies in the USA.

👉 How did she get rich?

• Inherited 42% of company shares after her husband David Koch's death.
• Invested in petrochemicals, technology, and clean energy.
• Expanded Koch Industries' business assets.

📌 Interesting fact: Julia is not only a businesswoman but also one of the most influential philanthropists in the USA. She donates billions to healthcare and medical research.

3. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers ($90 billion, L'Oréal, France) 💄

Françoise is the granddaughter of L'Oréal's founder, the world's largest cosmetics giant.

👉 How did she get rich?

• Inherited 33% of L'Oréal shares after her mother's death.
• Develops eco-friendly cosmetics.
• Invested billions in innovative skincare developments.

📌 Interesting fact: Besides business, Françoise is passionate about philosophy and writes scientific works. She actively supports scientific and humanitarian projects.

4. Jacqueline Mars ($38.5 billion, Mars Inc., USA) 🍫

Jacqueline is the granddaughter of Mars Inc.'s founder, known for brands like Snickers, M&M's, and Whiskas.

👉 How did she get rich?

• Inherited the family business and one-third of company shares.
• Developed pet food production and expanded exports.
• Invested in nutrition research.

📌 Interesting fact: Mars Inc. remains a family company, and Jacqueline actively participates in management despite her age.

5. MacKenzie Scott ($35.6 billion, Amazon, USA) 📦

Former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie received a huge portion of his fortune after divorce.

👉 How did she get rich?

• Received 4% of Amazon shares (about $36 billion) after divorce.
• Actively invested in startups, technology, and education.
• Has given away billions to charity, yet her capital continues to grow.

📌 Interesting fact: MacKenzie is among the most generous philanthropists in history, having already donated over $14 billion to social projects.

What do these women have in common?

✔ They didn't just inherit money but multiplied it.

✔ They develop their companies and invest in promising industries.

✔ They are all actively involved in philanthropy.