Who Is the Richest Woman on Earth
As of the latest Forbes real-time billionaires list, MacKenzie Scott remains the richest woman on earth by net worth. Her wealth is primarily tied to her retained stake in Amazon, where she was an early investor and ex-wife of founder Jeff Bezos. She has consistently ranked at the top of the global women's wealth list in recent years.
Her current net worth fluctuates with Amazon share price and other asset valuations. Forbes tracks her position alongside other female billionaires such as Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and Alice Walton. The ranking is based on publicly available stock holdings, private asset estimates, and disclosed stakes in companies.
How MacKenzie Scott Built Her Fortune
Scott received a large stake in Amazon after her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019. Amazon's rapid growth in cloud computing, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence services drove the value of her shares higher. She also retains a stake in Tidal and other investments, but Amazon remains the core driver of her net worth.
She has pledged the majority of her wealth to philanthropy through the Bezos Earth Fund and other giving commitments. Despite large donations, her net worth has remained at the top of the women's billionaires list due to continued share price appreciation. Forbes provides updated figures on her wealth and philanthropic activity on its billionaires page.
Other Top Female Billionaires and Their Wealth Sources
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heir to the L'Oréal fortune, ranks among the richest women globally. Her wealth is tied to her family's controlling stake in L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company. Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, remains another top contender on the global women's wealth list.
Other notable women include Julia Koch, heir to Koch Industries, and Zhong Huijuan, founder of Hansoh Pharmaceutical. These women derive their wealth from family-held companies, inheritance, and founding stakes in major firms. Forbes and Bloomberg track their net worths alongside MacKenzie Scott to update the global ranking of the richest woman on earth.