The richest women in the world in 2026 according to Forbes

Forbes' ranking of the world's billionaires remains disproportionately male, but the percentage of women among the planet's richest people continues to rise. This year, 481 of the world's 3,428 billionaires are women, or 14% of the list, up from 406 or 13.4% a year ago.

The richest woman in the world for the second year in a row is Walmart heiress Alice Walton, with an estimated fortune of $134 billion.

She is followed by L'Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, with $100 billion, and Julia Koch, widow of industrialist David Koch, with $81.2 billion.

Iris Fontbona climbed to fourth place with $52.6 billion, while Jacqueline Mars fell to fifth place with $49.1 billion.

The only self-made woman, meaning she has built her own fortune, is Swiss Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, with $44.5 billion, in sixth place.

She is the richest of just 122 self-made women billionaires, up from 113 a year ago. Among the most famous self-made women, Beyonce also makes the list this year, with $1 billion, along with Rihanna, Sara Blakely and Taylor Swift.

A new entry is Luana Lopes Lara from Brazil, co-founder of Kalshi, who at 29 years old is already the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world.

Meanwhile, Melinda French Gates and Marilyn Simons dropped out of the top 10, being replaced by Iris Fontbona and Zheng Shuliang.

Below you will read about the ten richest women in the world in 2026. Net worths were calculated on March 1, 2026.

10. Zheng Shuliang & family

Net worth: $33.2 billion | Age: 80 | Source: Aluminum products | Nationality: China.

9. Abigail Johnson

Net worth: $33.2 billion | Age: 64 | Source: Fidelity | Nationality: US.

8. Miriam Adelson & family

Net worth: $37.5 billion | Age: 80 | Source: Casino | Nationality: US.

7. Savitri Jindal & family

Net worth: $39.1 billion | Age: 75 | Source: Steel | Nationality: India.

6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant

Net worth: $44.5 billion | Age: 80 | Source: Shipping | Nationality: Swiss.

5. Jacqueline Mars

Net worth: $49.1 billion | Age: 86 | Source: Pastry | Nationality: US.

4. Iris Fontbona & family

Net worth: $52.6 billion | Age: 83 | Source: Mining | Nationality: Chilean.

3. Julia Koch & family

Net worth: $81.2 billion | Age: 63 | Source: Koch, Inc. | Nationality: US.

2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family

Net worth: $100 billion | Age: 72 | Source: L'Oréal | Nationality: France.

1. Alice Walton

Net worth: $134 billion | Age: 76 | Source: Walmart | Nationality: US.

/ Forbes