Let’s talk about women who have serious power. If you ever feel like you need to find inspiration to help keep you on your professional path, this list of female billionaires should do the trick. From one corner of the globe to the another, there are women making strides in business, politics, medicine, science and the arts – and many of these women have made billions doing what they love most. Despite any challenges, they have not let anything stand in their way, making them some of the best sources for true motivation. Ready to aim high? Here’s a look at some major inspiration – a few women from Forbes’ list of the 2016 World’s Top Female Billionaires. Read on for a list of female trailblazers.
Major Inspiration: The World’s Top Female Billionaires
The grand dame of L’Oréal, Liliane Bettencourt and her children own 33% of the cosmetics empire that her father, Eugene Schueller, founded in 1907.
Abigail Johnson took over as CEO of Fidelity in 2014, replacing her father, Edward “Ned” Johnson III, and becoming the third Johnson to lead the company.
Jacqueline Mars and her two brothers, Forrest Jr. and John, own Mars, the world’s largest candy maker ($33 billion in sales).
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, Heineken Beer
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is one of the richest women in the world, thanks to her 25% controlling stake in Dutch brewer Heineken, which she inherited from her late father, Freddy Heineken, more than a decade ago.
Gina Rinehart, Mining Industry
Gina Rinehart is Australia’s richest citizen, despite her fortune being hit by falling iron-ore prices in recent years. The daughter of a high profile iron-ore explorer, Lang Hancock, Rinehart took her late father’s bankrupted estate and rebuilt it into something much larger.
Vivien Chen, Real Estate Industry
Vivien Chen, the younger daughter of the late billionaire Chen Din Hwa, has called the shots at the family’s privately held Nan Fung Group since 2009. After three decades of being groomed for the role, she now runs one of the largest business dynasties in Hong Kong.
Oprah Winfrey, Entertainment Industry
Oprah Winfrey’s magic has rubbed off on Weight Watchers. Since the media mogul bought a 10% stake in the diet empire in October 2015, its stock is up some 90%. The long-reigning queen of daytime TV has also proven she can thrive without a talk show. Her cable network, OWN, delivered its most-watched year in 2015, following four years of double-digit viewership growth, according to Nielsen.
Can you find inspiration from these women who are holding their own out there in the world of billionaires?
*All excerpts taken from Forbes: “The World’s Billionaires” 2016 Ranking. For the full list and article, click here.
