Françoise Bettencourt Meyers continues to reign as the world’s richest woman. In the third year in a row, the French heiress retains the title, with an estimated net worth of $80.5 billion, which is more than $5.7 billion higher than last year.
Bettencourt Meyers, who is the 11th richest person on the planet, has moved up in rank from No. 14 compared to last year. Only a small portion, specifically 13%, of the world’s 2,640 billionaires are featured on the 2023 Forbes World’s Billionaires list, and this list comprises only 337 women.
In 2021, exceptional sales and earnings surpassing expectations contributed to high demand, leading to a 12% increase in the value of L’Oréal’s shares in the previous year. The company, which was established by Bettencourt Meyers’ grandfather more than a century ago, generated a revenue of $38.2 billion in 2022 and currently employs over 85,000 individuals. The L’Oréal Group, known for its dominance in the beauty and hair industry, is the primary source of the 69-year-old’s wealth.
Bettencourt Meyers received the stake and the distinction of being the wealthiest woman in the world from her late mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who passed away in 2017. Together with her relatives, she commands approximately 33% of L’Oréal. As the most affluent newcomer, Bettencourt Meyers appeared on the list of billionaires in 2018, with a value of $42.2 billion at the time.
Ready Player Me, an avatar platform for the Metaverse, established a multi-brand partnership with L’Oréal in November 2022, and popular YouTube personality Emma Chamberlain became the ambassador for Lancôme in January. The company has been actively promoting its products to attract customers from Generation Z. L’Oréal’s various brands, such as Kiehl’s, Lancôme, Maybelline, and La Roche-Posay, offer a wide range of top-quality skincare and makeup items. Additionally, Jean-Victor and Nicolas, her two sons, have recently joined the board of L’Oréal. She has been a member of L’Oréal’s board since 1997 and holds French citizenship.
After discovering that the late heiress was in an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s, Bettencourt Meyers was designated by a court as her mother’s legal guardian in 2011. What followed were years of public commentary from her mother and another legal controversy accusing Bettencourt Meyers of bribing a witness. Both sentences were later overturned. He was found guilty, given a three-year prison sentence, and ordered to pay approximately $150 million in damages. In 2007, Bettencourt Meyers filed a lawsuit against François Marie Banier–a close family friend and renowned photographer–for allegedly defrauding her mother of over $1 billion in artwork, money, real estate, and other presents. Bettencourt Meyers’ ascent to becoming the world’s wealthiest woman was not without turmoil, most notably a French scandal involving billions of dollars that resulted in a highly publicized and contentious rift between mother and daughter.
Since taking her mother’s spot on the list, Bettencourt Meyers has continued to grow the fortune of the Meyers family. She is the chairwoman of the Téthys Investment company, which has supported numerous private French hospitals, including the Elsan operator projects.
She has also made significant philanthropic contributions. In 2019, Meyers Bettencourt, along with L’Oréal, pledged $230 million for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral. She is also the president of Schueller Bettencourt Fondation, which promotes advancements in French arts and sciences.
