Alice Walton, Walmart Heiress, Regains Title of World’s Richest Woman, According to Forbes
Alice Walton, the heiress of Walmart, has once again been named the wealthiest woman globally, as reported by Forbes earlier this month.
The 74-year-old, daughter of Walmart’s late founder Sam Walton, reached the top position on Forbes’ “World’s Wealthiest Woman” list on September 4, boasting an estimated fortune of $89.1 billion.
She had temporarily lost this title to Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, aged 71, who is the heiress of the French cosmetics giant L’Oreal, according to the same Forbes report. Bettencourt Meyers, who was a centibillionaire last year, now holds a net worth of approximately $88.4 billion.
The competition for the title has a history: in 2019, Bettencourt Meyers briefly overtook Walton, but Walton reclaimed the title in 2020.
In 2023, Bettencourt Meyers outstripped Walton once again, causing Walton to drop to third place behind Julia Koch, an American socialite who inherited her late husband David Koch’s stakes in Koch Industries. Koch’s net worth was estimated to be $74 billion as per Forbes’ September 4 rankings.
Who is the Wealthiest Woman in the World?
Alice Walton currently holds the title of the richest woman globally, according to the annual Forbes list.
With a net worth of roughly $89.1 billion, this philanthropist from Arkansas ranks as the 18th richest person in the world.
She is outdone by her brothers, Jim and Rob Walton, whose net worths were $95.9 billion and $94 billion respectively as of September 4, according to Forbes. Together, the heirs of Sam Walton control nearly 46% of Walmart.
Throughout her life, Walton has contributed over $5 billion to various charitable organizations, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which she established in Bentonville, Arkansas, in November 2011.
“In recent years, I have founded several new organizations focused on arts and health initiatives,” Walton said in a 2021 news release marking her departure as chair. “I want to dedicate more time to my leadership roles at these organizations.”
Who is the Richest Person in the World?
Elon Musk is recognized as the richest person globally, with an estimated net worth of $222 billion as of early August. He is the founder of SpaceX and The Boring Company and co-founder of PayPal and Neuralink, among other ventures. Musk also owns X, previously known as Twitter.
Net worth of billionaires fluctuates daily due to stock market changes. According to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List, here are the top wealth holders in August 2024:
- Elon Musk
- Jeff Bezos
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Bernard Arnault and family
- Larry Ellison
- Warren Buffett
- Larry Page
- Bill Gates
- Sergey Brin
- Steve Ballmer
Contributions from: Clare Mulroy, YSL News
