The 20 richest women in the world, ranked
From Alice Walton to MacKenzie Scott, the richest women in the world are all heiresses who own stakes in some of the biggest companies.
The 20 richest women in the world, according to Forbes' "World's Billionaires List" from March 1, 2026, span a diverse range of industries and hail predominantly from the United States. As of that date, these women held a combined wealth of $886 billion, including that of some immediate family members.
At the top of the list, Diane Hendricks, 79, is worth $22.3 billion as the chair of ABC Supply, a building supplies company she cofounded in 1982 with her husband. Following her husband's death in 2007, she has been the chair and led the company through significant acquisitions.
Christy Walton, 77, ranks second with $24.3 billion. She inherited a stake in Walmart following her husband, John Walton's, death in 2005 and inherited about one-sixth of his estate.
Gina Rinehart, 72, from Australia, is ranked third with $25.5 billion. She rebuilt her father's financially distressed company, Hancock Prospecting, following his death and has been the executive chair of Hancock since 1992, whose biggest asset is an iron ore mining project.
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