Each year, the billionaire rankings provide a revealing snapshot of how wealth is distributed globally. According to the latest figures, the number of female billionaires continues to rise, although women still represent a relatively small share of the ultra-rich. According to the latest data from Forbes, there are now 481 female billionaires among the world’s 3,428 billionaires, accounting for about 14% of the list. That’s a notable increase from the 406 women recorded a year earlier, reflecting a gradual shift in the composition of global wealth.
Yet the list of the richest women still reflects a mix of inherited fortunes, powerful family dynasties and a smaller but steadily growing group of self-made entrepreneurs. Retail empires, mining conglomerates, cosmetics giants and global logistics companies remain among the dominant sources of wealth for many women at the top. At the same time, strong business performance, rising commodity prices and booming global retail markets have helped several fortunes rise significantly this year.
Here are the richest women in the world in 2026, ranked from number 10 to number 1…
#10. Zheng Shuliang and family
Net worth: $33.2 billion
Source of wealth: Aluminum products
Citizenship: China
One of only two Asian women in the top ten, Zheng Shuliang built her fortune through China’s vast aluminum industry. She is vice chairman of China Hongqiao Group, one of the largest aluminum producers in the world.
The company was founded in 1994 by her late husband, Zhang Shippingand currently generates more than $21 billion in annual revenue while employing tens of thousands of employees. Although Zheng remains a key figure in the company, the day-to-day management now lies with her son. Zhang Bowho serves as CEO and chairman. In addition to aluminum, the family’s industrial reach also extends to textiles through Weiqiao Textile, chaired by Zheng’s daughter.
#9. Abigail Johnson
Net worth: $33.2 billion
Source of wealth: Fidelity Investments
Citizenship: United States
Abigail Johnson is among the most influential women in global finance. She is currently chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments, the investment giant founded by her grandfather Edward C Johnson II in 1946.
Under Johnson’s leadership, Fidelity has remained a dominant force in wealth management and retirement services. While her wealth grew by about $500 million last year, she fell slightly in the rankings while other fortunes rose even faster, underscoring the fierce competition among the world’s richest women in 2026.
#8. Miriam Adelson and family
Net worth: $37.5 billion
Source of wealth: Casinos
Citizenship: United States
Miriam Adelson inherited a huge casino empire after her husband’s death, Sheldon Adelsonthe founder of Las Vegas Sands. Over the past year, the casino operator’s shares have soared, adding more than $5 billion to its fortune.
In addition to her business interests, Adelson has become a major political donor in the United States. She is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading financial supporters Donald Trump and still exercises considerable influence within political circles.
#7. Savitri Jindal and family
Net worth: $39.1 billion
Source of Wealth: Steel and infrastructure
Citizenship: India
Savitri JindalIndia’s richest woman, controls a vast industrial empire spanning steel, energy, cement and infrastructure. The conglomerate was originally built by her late husband, OP Jindalwho founded the Jindal Group before his death in 2005.
Today, the company is run by the couple’s four sons, each overseeing different departments of the family’s extensive operations. Her continued presence among the richest women underlines India’s growing influence in the global billionaire landscape.
#6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Net worth: $44.5 billion
Source of Wealth: Dispatch
Citizenship: Switzerland
Unlike many of her colleagues on the list, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is a self-made billionaire. Together with her husband, she founded the global shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Gianluigi Aponte.
What started with a single ship financed by a $200,000 loan has grown into one of the largest shipping and logistics companies in the world. Today, MSC operates container shipping lines, cruise companies and port infrastructure in dozens of countries, making Aponte-Diamant the richest self-made woman in the top ten.
#5. Jacqueline Mars
Net worth: $49.1 billion
Source of Wealth: Candy and pet food
Citizenship: United States
Jacqueline Mars is the third generation heir to the iconic Mars family fortune. The company, founded by her grandfather Frank C. Marsproduces some of the most recognizable snacks in the world, including M&Ms and Pringles.
In addition to confectionery, Mars has become a major global player in the pet care industry, further expanding the family’s business empire. Jacqueline Mars worked at the company for almost twenty years before retiring from the board in 2016.
#4. Iris Fontbona and family
Net worth: $52.6 billion
Source of Wealth: Mining
Citizenship: Chile
Iris Fontbona This year saw one of the largest increases in prosperity in the top ten. Her fortune rose significantly as copper prices rose to record levels, boosting the value of Antofagasta plc, the mining company she inherited from her late husband. Andronico Luksic.
Today, Fontbona oversees a diversified business empire that includes mining, banking and beverage companies. Her rise illustrates how swings in global commodity markets can dramatically change the rankings of billionaires.
#3. Julia Koch and family
Net worth: $81.2 billion
Source of Wealth: Koch, Inc.
Citizenship: United States
Julia Koch inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries after her husband’s death, David Kochin 2019. The conglomerate is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, with business interests ranging from chemicals and pipelines to consumer goods.
In recent years, the Koch family has also expanded into sports investments. Julia Koch and her children recently acquired a minority stake in the NFL’s New York Giants, further diversifying the family’s interests.
#2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and family
Net worth: $100 billion
Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
Citizenship: France
Françoise Bettencourt Meyersgranddaughter of Eugene Schuellerthe founder of L’Oréal, remains one of the most powerful figures in the global beauty industry.
She previously made headlines as the first woman to reach centibillionaire status. Although Bettencourt Meyers stepped down from the company’s board in 2025 after nearly three decades, L’Oréal’s continued global success has placed her firmly among the richest women in the world.
#1. Alice Walton
Net worth: $134 billion
Source of Wealth: Walmart
Citizenship: United States
For the second year in a row Alice Walton holds the title of the richest woman in the world. She is the only daughter of Sam Waltonthe founder of retail giant Walmart. Her fortune soared by more than $30 billion as Walmart’s shares rose sharply, fueled by strong profits and an ongoing boom in global e-commerce. The company also achieved a historic milestone when it became the first traditional retailer to exceed a market capitalization of $1 trillion.
Walton’s dominance highlights how family dynasties continue to define the upper echelons of global wealth. Still, the steadily increasing number of female entrepreneurs entering the ranks of billionaires suggests that the future lineup of the world’s richest women could become much more diverse in the coming years.
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