Creativity, determination and a little bit of luck are just some of the ways these impressive and super successful ladies made it onto our list of the 11 richest self-made women worldwide. There are several incredibly successful self-made women around the world.
While their paths to success vary, these women share a common characteristic: They have achieved great things through hard work and determination. As a result, more women are creating new businesses and amassing fortunes. As a result, Forbes has expanded our ranking of the nation’s wealthiest self-made women to 80 ceiling crashers, one-third more than a year ago.
Here Are the Richest Self-Made Women Around the World
11. Oprah Winfrey: $2.6 Billion
Oprah Winfrey is the richest self-made woman globally, with a net worth of $2.6 billion. She started her career as a news anchor and then became a talk show host in 1986. She has created an empire with her talk show, books, and media company.
10. Johnelle Hunt: $2.7 Billion
Johnelle Hunt is the richest self-made woman globally, with a net worth of $2.7 billion. She made her fortune in the trucking business, starting as a driver and working her way up to CEO. She is now retired but still has a stake in the company. Hunt is also a major philanthropist, giving away millions of dollars to charity.
8. Lynda Resnick Net Worth: $2.8 Billion
Lynda Resnick is an American businesswoman with a net worth of $2.8 billion. She is the co-founder and owner of Fiji Water, POM Wonderful, and Wonderful Pistachios. She also has a stake in Teleflora. Resnick is the richest self-made woman in the world.
7. Judy Love Net Worth: $2.9 Billion
Judy Love is the richest self-made woman in the world. Judy’s net worth is estimated at $2.9 billion. She made her fortune in the trucking industry. Judy started her own trucking company in 1985 and grew it into a multimillion-dollar business. She has since retired from active management, but her company remains one of the largest trucking firms in the United States. Judy is also a prominent philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charities and universities worldwide.
6. Thai Lee Net Worth: $3 Billion
Thai Lee is the richest self-made woman globally, with a net worth of $3 billion. She is the CEO and founder of SHI, a technology company that provides information technology services to businesses and governments worldwide.
Lee immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1981 and started her first business venture two years later. She has been named one of the most powerful women in business by Forbes and Fortune magazines.
5. Judy Faulkner Net Worth: $3.6 Billion
Judy Faulkner is an American businesswoman who founded the healthcare software company Epic Systems. In 2018, she was estimated to have a net worth of $3.6 billion, making her one of the richest self-made women worldwide.
Born in 1950, Faulkner grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. After graduating from college, she worked as a computer programmer and eventually founded Epic Systems in 1979. The company has since become a leading provider of healthcare software, with over $1 billion in annual sales.
Faulkner has been praised for her innovation and business acumen and was named one of Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2013. She is also a prominent philanthropist, having donated millions of dollars to various causes.
4. Marian Ilitch Net Worth: $3.7 Billion
Marian Ilitch, the co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza and the Detroit Red Wings owner, is America’s richest self-made woman with a net worth of $3.7 billion. She and her husband, Mike Ilitch, started a pizza shop in 1959 using a $10,000 loan from their parents. The couple built Little Caesars into one of the largest pizza chains in the world. Marian also owns MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.
3. Meg Whitman Net Worth: $3.8 Billion
Meg Whitman is the second richest self-made woman globally, with a net worth of $3.8 billion. Whitman is the CEO of HP and has been with the company for over 30 years. She started her career as a brand manager at Procter & Gamble and worked her way up through the ranks at various technology companies before taking over HP in 2011. Whitman is also active in politics; she ran for governor of California in 2010 and was the Republican nominee.
2. Diane Hendricks Net Worth: $7.2 Billion
Diane Hendricks, the richest self-made woman with a net worth of $7.2 billion, is the chairman and co-founder of ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and siding in America. The company was founded by Hendricks and her late husband, Ken Hendricks, in 1982 with just $1,000. She started as a secretary at the company and worked her way up to CEO. Today, ABC Supply has more than 700 branches and employs more than 18,000 people.
1. Wu Yajun Net Worth: $9.9 Billion
Wu Yajun became the richest self-made woman globally with a net worth of $9.9 billion. She is the co-founder and chairwoman of Longfor Properties, one of China’s largest real estate developers. After immigrating to Beijing from Hunan Province at age 21, Wu started as a secretary before making her fortune in real estate.
Today, Longfor Properties has a market capitalization of over $30 billion and employs over 20,000 people. Wu has also made charitable contributions totalling over $100 million, including donations to education and disaster relief initiatives.
Source: | Forbes
