According to the latest update from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, there’s a new name topping the list of the world’s richest women.
While the Forbes Real Time Billionaires list and Bloomberg’s index sometimes show different figures, Bloomberg has confirmed that Alice Walton, the 74-year-old American heiress, is now the richest woman globally.
Alice Walton’s Wealth and Position
As of the latest report, Walton is ranked 17th overall with a staggering net worth of $96.9 billion.
Her wealth has seen a significant rise, surpassing the previous top-ranking woman, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers.
Walton’s fortune reflects her unique path and accomplishments, including her focus on art rather than the family business.
A Legacy of Art and Philanthropy
Alice Walton is the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton.
Unlike her brothers, Rob and Jim Walton, who are actively involved in Walmart, Alice has carved out her own niche.
In 2011, she opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, her hometown.
The museum showcases works by renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.
In 2022, she further expanded her philanthropic efforts by renaming a holistic health institute she founded in Bentonville to the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.
Walton vs. Bettencourt Meyers
Walton’s rise to the top position comes as L’Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers experiences a dip in her wealth.
Bettencourt Meyers’s net worth has fallen to $90.6 billion due to a drop in L’Oréal’s stock value.
This shift has allowed Walton to surpass her as the world’s richest woman.
The Walton family, which controls approximately half of Walmart, remains influential.
Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, with an impressive annual revenue of $648 billion in fiscal 2024.
Family Insights
The Walton family has a significant presence in the list of wealthy individuals.
Jim Walton and Rob Walton are the 15th and 16th richest people globally, with net worths of $99.9 billion and $97.6 billion, respectively.
Their sibling, John Walton, tragically died in a plane crash in 2005.
John’s wife Christy Walton, with a net worth of $15.6 billion, ranks 133rd globally, while their son Lukas Walton is 45th with a net worth of $34.7 billion.
Top 10 Richest Women
Here’s a look at the current top 10 richest women in the world, according to Forbes:
- Alice Walton – $89.1 billion, 74
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family – $89 billion, 71
- Julia Koch & family – $74.2 billion, 62
- Jacqueline Mars – $47.6 billion, 84
- Savitri Jindal & family – $39.4 billion, 74
- Rafaela Aponte-Diamant – $34.8 billion, 79
- MacKenzie Scott – $32.9 billion, 54
- Gina Rinehart – $31.5 billion, 70
- Abigail Johnson – $31.3 billion, 62
- Miriam Adelson & family – $29.6 billion, 78
Richest People Overall
For comparison, here’s the list of the top 10 richest people in the world as of September 4, 2024:
- Elon Musk – $241.7 billion, 53
- Jeff Bezos – $194.9 billion, 60
- Bernard Arnault & family – $183.7 billion, 75
- Mark Zuckerberg – $177.3 billion, 40
- Larry Ellison – $172.7 billion, 80
- Warren Buffett – $150.1 billion, 94
- Bill Gates – $136.9 billion, 68
- Larry Page – $131.3 billion, 51
- Sergey Brin – $125.8 billion, 51
- Steve Ballmer – $120.8 billion, 68
Looking Ahead
With these changes at the top of the wealth rankings, it’ll be interesting to see how these positions evolve and who will be making headlines next in the world of billionaires.
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