The World’s Second Richest Woman Has A $95 Billion Fortune – And Most People Have Never Even Heard Of Her
According to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings, she holds the title of the second wealthiest woman in the world and also ranks as the 20th richest person overall. Unlike most of the billionaires ahead of her on that list, the 72-year-old didn’t have to build a company from the ground up — her fortune was largely inherited.
To put her wealth into perspective, she could buy NBA tickets for every single American to watch a game between Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors and LeBron James’ LA Lakers. At $135.70 per ticket, plus an official Wilson NBA basketball priced at $44 for everyone, she would still walk away with an incredible $33 billion left over.
So, let’s take a closer look at Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and how she came to hold such an enormous fortune.
Who is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers?
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is a French billionaire and the daughter of André and Liliane Bettencourt. Her wealth traces back to her mother, who herself inherited it from her father’s empire.
Although she was raised Catholic, Françoise later converted to Judaism. She and her husband raised their two sons, Jean-Victor and Nicolas, in the Jewish faith, showing her dedication to her family’s traditions and values.
How did Françoise Bettencourt Meyers build her fortune?
The foundation of her immense fortune goes back to Eugène Schueller, a French chemist who created the global beauty giant L’Oréal. When he passed away in 1957, his only child, Liliane Bettencourt, inherited his empire.
Through her mother, Françoise eventually became the heiress to this fortune. Her mother was one of the principal shareholders of L’Oréal until her passing in 2017. Today, Françoise owns about 33 percent of the company, making her the single largest shareholder of the beauty brand.
On top of her inherited wealth and leadership role, L’Oréal has seen steady growth, especially in international beauty markets and through online sales. This global success has only made her wealth continue to climb over the years.
What is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ current net worth?
As of now, Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker values her fortune at an incredible $95.3 billion.
That figure is always shifting, as it depends on changes in L’Oréal’s stock price, foreign currency exchange rates, and the overall economy.
For comparison, Forbes still includes Michael Bloomberg, valuing him at $109.4 billion and placing him at 17th on their billionaire list.
