Richest Woman in the World

Have you ever thought who is the richest woman in the world? Is Oprah the richest woman in the world or is it someone else? The following article will cover the top 10 richest woman in the world that rule the big bucks.

I have noticed that when it comes to naming who is the 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. 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 2010

Let us now begin naming the members of the fairer sex, who no longer should 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 2010.

1. Chirsty 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. Alice Walton Wealth: $US20.6 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 second richest woman in the world after her sister in law Christy Walton. It’s the Walton women who rule the roost of the richest femme fatale in the corporate world.

3. Liliane Bettencourt Wealth: $US20.0 billion Source: L’Or’al Citizen: France

The French heiress, daughter of L’Oreal founder Eugene Scheueller, is the wealthiest woman in all of Europe and the third 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 21st on the list of wealthiest people in the world. Phew!! At the age of 86, that’s sure is a lot of money to fall back on for a peaceful retirement.

4. Brigit Rausing Wealth: $US13.0 billion Source: Tetra Laval Citizen: Sweden

Dr. Brigit Rausing, is an art historian from Sweden. Wondering how an art historian has stumbled into the list of top 10 richest 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.

5. Savitri Jindal Wealth: $US12.2 billion Source: Jindal Steel Citizen: India

This is the richest woman in India, who is also the 44th richest person in the world and the 5th richest women in the world. She was the non-executive member of her husbands 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!

6. Abigail Johnson Wealth: $US11.5 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 also ranks at #48 in the list of world’s billionaires.

7. Susanne Klatten Wealth: $US11.1 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 35th richest person in the world.

8. Iris Fontbona Wealth: $US11.0 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 ranked 132nd in the world. There is not much information about Iris Fontbona available in the web world and therefore, her age and photographs remain unknown.

9. Jacqueline Mars Wealth: $US11.0 billion Source: Mars bar, Snickers, M&Ms, Whiskas, Pedigree 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, etc. Her pet food company is surpassing her confectionery company with products like Pedigree for dogs and Whiskas for cats.

10. Anne Cox Chambers Wealth: $US10.2 billion Source: Cox Enterprise Citizen: United States of America

The owner of Cox Enterprise, this 90 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 is has spread its roots to television, radio, cable television, etc.

Is Oprah the Richest Woman in the World Your question ‘who is the richest woman in the world’ 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. Many readers ask a common question, ‘is Oprah the richest woman in 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. 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. Yajun Wu Wealth: $US3.9 billion Source: Property Development Citizen: China

2. Rosalie Mera Wealth: $US3.5 billion Source: Clothing Citizen: Spain

3. Elena Baturina Wealth: $US2.9 billion Source: Construction Citizen: Russia

4. Doris Fisher Wealth: $US2.4 billion Source: Clothing Citizen: United States of America

5. Xiu Li Hawken Wealth: $US2.4 billion Source: Property Development Citizen: United Kingdom

6. Oprah Winfrey Wealth: $US2.4 billion Source: Media Citizen: United States of America

7. Guilana Benetton Wealth: $US2.1 billion Source: Clothing Citizen: Italian

8. Chu Lam Yiu Wealth: $US2.1 billion Source: Flavorings and Fragrances Citizen: China

9. Zhang Xin Wealth: $US2 billion Source: Property Development Citizen: China Wealth: $US1.7 billion Source: Waste Paper Citizen: China

10. Meg Whitman Wealth: $US1.3 billion Source: Internet Commerce Citizen: United States of America

11. Chan Laiwa Wealth: $US1.1 billion Source: Property Development Citizen: China

12. Lei Jufang Wealth: $US1.1 billion Source: Medicines Citizen: China

13. J.K. Rowling Wealth: $US1 billion Source: Author Citizen: United Kingdom

This was a list of top 10 richest women in the world 2010. Some of them are self made 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.