Alice Walton surpasses Francoise Bettencourt Meyers as world’s richest woman

Alice Walton, the Walmart heiress, has recently become the world’s wealthiest woman, overtaking Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal cosmetics heiress. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Walton’s net worth has surpassed $95 billion, driven by a 44% increase in Walmart’s stock price this year, adding $25 billion to her fortune.

In contrast, Bettencourt Meyers has seen a significant drop in her wealth, losing $10 billion this year due to a 13% decline in L’Oréal’s share price. Her net worth now stands at around $90 billion, placing her 19th on Bloomberg’s rich list, just behind Walton.

The Walton siblings—Alice, Jim, and Rob—each inherited over 11% of Walmart’s shares from their father, Sam Walton, the founder of the retail giant. The family’s wealth has been further bolstered by stock sales and dividends, with Bloomberg estimating these contributions to exceed $15 billion over time. Jim Walton’s net worth now stands at $98 billion, with Rob Walton closely following at $95.8 billion.

Born in Newport, Arkansas, in 1949, Alice Walton has focused more on art and philanthropy than on Walmart’s daily operations. She founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2011. Her wealth continues to grow, and if it surpasses $100 billion, she will join an exclusive group of centi-billionaires, including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett.

Meanwhile, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who inherited a 35% stake in L’Oréal from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, in 2017, remains a major player in the cosmetics industry. Despite recent setbacks, L’Oréal continues to be the world’s largest cosmetics company, with a portfolio of popular brands like Garnier and Maybelline.