The world’s wealthiest is often filled to the brim with masculinity, but it’s an age-old notion that business is a man’s world. Standing proud in the list of upper-crust honchos are the women who front the biggest names in business, who hold a considerable fortune to their name.
And if men have made their mark in fashion brands, women are creating feats of their own. Below, here are the richest women in the fashion and beauty industry, as named by Forbes.
Top 5 Richest Women in the Fashion and Beauty Industry for 2023
1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
Net worth: $91.1 billion
Company: L'Oréal
The French businesswoman takes the title of the wealthiest woman in the world. As the granddaughter of L'Oréal founder Eugène Schueller, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has been on the board of the world’s largest cosmetics company since 1997, and is now the chairwoman of the family holding company. The 69-year-old also serves as the president of their foundation, which champions science and the arts.
2. Sandra Ortega Mera
Net worth: $7.2 billion
Company: Inditex (the company behind Zara)
The daughter of Inditex’s Amancio Ortega–known for brands like Zara–Sandra Ortega Mera holds a considerable 4.5 percent state in the company, even if she’s not directly involved. She inherited her fortune from her mother and became the second-richest person in Spain. Now, she devotes her time to her mom’s nonprofit that supports vocational training for people with disabilities.
Aside from Inditex, she also owns a five percent state in PharmaMar, which tests cancer drugs against COVID-19.
3. Miuccia Prada
Net worth: $5.8 billion
Company: Prada and Miu Miu
The Prada heiress formerly co-helmed as CEO and lead designer in the luxury empire, founded by her grandfather Mario Prada in 1913. Miuccia Prada ran the company with her husband Patrizio Bertelli, and established Prada’s youthful subsidiary Miu Miu, which takes inspiration from her family nickname.
4. Jane Lauder
Net worth: $4.1 billion
Company: Estée Lauder
The granddaughter of cosmetics legend Estée Lauder, Jane Lauder has served on the company’s board directors since 2009, and is currently its executive vice president and chief data officer. The beauty giant–which was founded in 1946–now houses 20 brands with a revenue of $17.7 billion.
5. Marisa Del Vecchio, Paola Del Vecchio and Nicoletta Zampillo
Net worth: $4.1 billion
Company: EssilorLuxottica, an eyewear corporation with licenses including Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Michael Kors
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The three billionaires’ fortunes can be traced to the world’s largest eyeglasses firm EssilorLuxottica and its chairman Leonardo Del Vecchio. Marisa and Paola are two of the six children of the late mogul, who both inherited a 12.5 percent state in the Luxembourg-based holding company Delfin. Aside from this, Marisa also leads the Museum of Optics in Agordo, Italy.
Meanwhile, Nicoletta, Leonardo’s widow, also owns a 12.5 percent state. They were first married in 1997, later divorced, then remarried in 2010.
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