Every year, billionaire rankings provide a revealing snapshot of how wealth is distributed globally. In the latest tally, the number of female billionaires continues to rise, although women still represent a relatively small share of the ultra-wealthy. According to the newest data from Forbes, there are now 481 female billionaires among the world’s 3,428 billionaires, accounting for roughly 14% of the list. That marks a notable increase from the 406 women recorded just a year earlier, reflecting a gradual shift in the composition of global wealth.

Even so, the roster of the richest women still reflects a blend 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 firms remain among the dominant sources of wealth for many of the women at the top. At the same time, strong corporate performance, rising commodity prices, and booming global retail markets helped propel several fortunes significantly higher this year.

Here are the richest women in the world in 2026, ranked from No. 10 to No. 1…

#10. Zheng Shuliang & Family

Net worth: $33.2 billion
Source of wealth: Aluminum products
Citizenship: China

One of only two Asian women among the top ten, Zheng Shuliang built her fortune through China’s massive aluminum industry. She serves as vice chair of China Hongqiao Group, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers.

The company was founded in 1994 by her late husband, Zhang Shiping, and today generates more than $21 billion in annual revenue while employing tens of thousands of workers. Although Zheng remains a key figure in the company, day-to-day leadership now rests with her son, Zhang Bo, who serves as CEO and chairman. Beyond aluminum, the family’s industrial reach also extends into 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 stands among the most influential women in global finance. She currently serves as 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 asset management and retirement services. While her wealth grew by roughly $500 million over the past year, she slipped slightly in the rankings as other fortunes rose even faster, highlighting the fierce competition among the richest women in the world in 2026.

#8. Miriam Adelson & Family

Net worth: $37.5 billion
Source of wealth: Casinos
Citizenship: United States

Miriam Adelson inherited a vast casino empire following the death of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, the founder of Las Vegas Sands. Over the past year, shares of the casino operator climbed sharply, adding more than $5 billion to her 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 largest financial supporters of Donald Trump and continues to exert considerable influence within political circles.

#7. Savitri Jindal & Family

Net worth: $39.1 billion
Source of wealth: Steel and infrastructure
Citizenship: India

Savitri Jindal, the richest woman in India, controls a vast industrial empire spanning steel, energy, cement, and infrastructure. The conglomerate was originally built by her late husband, O. P. Jindal, who founded the Jindal Group before his death in 2005.

Today, the business is run by the couple’s four sons, each overseeing different divisions of the family’s sprawling operations. Her continued presence among the wealthiest women underscores India’s growing influence in the global billionaire landscape.

#6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant

Net worth: $44.5 billion
Source of wealth: Shipping
Citizenship: Switzerland

Unlike many of her peers on the list, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is a self-made billionaire. She cofounded the global shipping powerhouse Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) with her husband, Gianluigi Aponte.

What began 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 businesses, and port infrastructure across dozens of countries, making Aponte-Diamant the wealthiest self-made woman among the top ten.

#5. Jacqueline Mars

Net worth: $49.1 billion
Source of wealth: Candy and pet food
Citizenship: United States

Jacqueline Mars is a third-generation heir to the iconic Mars family fortune. The company, founded by her grandfather Frank C. Mars, produces some of the most recognizable snacks in the world, including M&M’s and Pringles.

In addition to confectionery, Mars has grown into a major global player in the pet-care industry, further expanding the family’s business empire. Jacqueline Mars spent nearly two decades working within the company before stepping away from the board in 2016.

#4. Iris Fontbona & Family

Net worth: $52.6 billion
Source of wealth: Mining
Citizenship: Chile

Iris Fontbona experienced one of the largest wealth surges among the top ten this year. Her fortune jumped significantly as copper prices climbed to record levels, boosting the value of Antofagasta plc, the mining company she inherited from her late husband Andrónico Luksic.

Today, Fontbona oversees a diversified business empire that spans mining, banking, and beverage companies. Her rise illustrates how fluctuations in global commodity markets can dramatically reshape billionaire rankings.

#3. Julia Koch & Family

Net worth: $81.2 billion
Source of wealth: Koch, Inc.
Citizenship: United States

Julia Koch inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries after the death of her husband, David Koch, in 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 holdings.

#2. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family

Net worth: $100 billion
Source of wealth: L’Oréal
Citizenship: France

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, granddaughter of Eugène Schueller, the 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 achieve centibillionaire status. Although Bettencourt Meyers stepped down from the company’s board in 2025 after nearly three decades, the continued global success of L’Oréal has kept 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 consecutive year, Alice Walton holds the title of the richest woman in the world. She is the only daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of retail giant Walmart. Her fortune surged by more than $30 billion as Walmart’s stock climbed sharply, fueled by strong earnings and a continued boom in global e-commerce. The company also reached a historic milestone when it became the first traditional retailer to surpass a $1 trillion market capitalization.

Walton’s dominance highlights how family dynasties continue to shape the upper ranks of global wealth. Yet the steadily increasing number of female entrepreneurs entering the billionaire ranks suggests that the future lineup of the world’s richest women may become far more diverse in the years ahead.

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