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50 RICHEST SELF-MADE WOMEN BILLIONAIRES IN THE WORLD

 50 RICHEST SELF-MADE WOMEN BILLIONAIRES IN THE WORLD


There are now an estimated 658 million female entrepreneurs worldwide—nearly two-thirds of them at the early stages of business—compared to 772 million men, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Yet despite this growth, women still lag behind significantly in wealth creation. Of the world's self-made billionaires, only 3.5% are women, controlling just 4% of the $11.2 trillion in total self-made billionaire wealth.
“Women’s entrepreneurship is the number one policy solution to health and education deficits,” said Amanda Elam, author of GEM’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Report. “The types of businesses women run often enhance the quality of life, attracting larger corporations and supporting long-term development.”
Recognizing their growing influence, Forbes has for the first time published a global ranking of the 50 richest self-made women. These women, who built fortunes in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to fashion, are collectively worth $276 billion, with an average net worth of $5.5 billion.

Top Self-Made Women Billionaires (2025)

RankNameCountryIndustryNet Worth (USD)1Rafaela Aponte-DiamantSwitzerlandShipping$38.8B2Diane HendricksUnited StatesBuilding Supplies$22.3B3Zhong HuijuanChinaPharmaceuticalsNot disclosed4Zhou QunfeiChinaTechnology$10B5Melanie PerkinsAustraliaSoftware (Canva)Not disclosed6Tatyana KimRussiaE-commerceNot disclosed—Oprah WinfreyUnited StatesMediaNot in Top 5—Sheryl SandbergUnited StatesTech/BusinessNot in Top 5

Note: Minimum net worth to make the top 50 is $2.1 billion. Notable absentees include Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Sara Blakely, and Gwynne Shotwell.


Regional Representation

Asia-Pacific: 24 women (48%)


North America: 20 women (40%)


Europe: 6 women (12%)


Africa/South America: None


Industry Breakdown

Technology: 14 women


Retail: 5 (including cofounders of Shein)


Pharmaceuticals, Media, Fashion, Shipping: Others


China, long seen as a leader in women’s entrepreneurship, matches the U.S. with 18 women on the list. Cultural factors and access to markets have played a role in accelerating their success.
While progress is evident, the disparity remains stark. The top 50 self-made men boast a combined net worth of $3.8 trillion—14 times more than the top 50 women. Globally, 1,920 self-made male billionaires exist—18 times more than women.
Still, the momentum is building. Women’s share of the billionaire space has grown by nearly 50% since 2017, marking a slow but meaningful shift in global wealth dynamics.

Methodology

Forbes calculated net worths using public stock prices as of June 13, 2025, and consulted private equity experts for company valuations. All women on the list earned their wealth independently, with no inheritances factored in.


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