The 20 richest women in the world, ranked

Whether they’re founders or heiresses to some of the world’s biggest companies, most of the world’s richest women saw their wealth grow over the past year.

The sources of their fortunes span a range of industries, from cosmetics to building supplies, and most of the top 20 hail from the US.

This ranking and additional information were compiled from Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List.

It shows a snapshot of wealth from March 1, 2026.

Women comprised 14% of the Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List.

Forbes estimates net worth using assets such as stakes in public and private companies, real estate, and other holdings; it also accounts for factors including debt and charitable giving.

In some cases, Forbes also counts wealth held by a founder or heir’s immediate family, identifying those entries with “& family.” “Source” refers to the main source of the individual’s wealth. “World rank” refers to each woman’s placement on the 2006 World’s Billionaires List.

With a combined wealth of $886 billion, including that of some immediate family members, here are the 20 richest women in the world: