When I recently wrote an article about the wealthiest women in the world, I posted it on Linkedin:
And the comments I got were great. One expressed that the article was not the best list to use as all but two of the women on the list got their wealth from inheritance or their ex-husband and suggested I should make a list of self made women. The other great comment was from an old colleague suggesting I’ll be on the list soon! It’s on my vision board!
So, here we are! Self-made women have been making waves in the business world for centuries. From Oprah Winfrey to Sheryl Sandberg, some of the wealthiest and most successful women on the planet are self-made. In fact, many of the world’s richest female billionaires are self-made. So how did these women make their money?
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Top 11 Self-Made Women
As we continue to witness a significant rise in female entrepreneurship and leadership, it’s important that we celebrate and learn from the stories of self-made women who have defied the odds and achieved remarkable success. These women have demonstrated unwavering determination, innovation, and resilience, making them not only role models for aspiring entrepreneurs, but also trailblazers for women around the world. In this article, we will delve deeper into the journeys of the world’s richest self-made women, exploring the unique challenges they faced, the industries they revolutionized, and the strategies they employed to amass their fortunes.
1. Diane Hendricks
Diane Hendricks, the co-founder and chairwoman of ABC Supply Co., is now worth an estimated $15.5 billion, according to Forbes, after building her roofing and siding company from scratch. She opened the business in 1982 with her husband, Ken Hendricks, and has grown it to become one of the largest distributors of roofing materials in the US.
2. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, who is worth an estimated $2.5 billion according to MarketWatch, made her fortune through a combination of hosting her own talk show, producing films and television shows, launching her own magazine O Magazine, creating a philanthropic foundation and investing in real estate and stock portfolios. She also created her own media empire with Harpo Productions and OWN Network.
3. Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg, the current chief operating officer of Facebook, is worth $1.8 billion, according to Wikipedia, and made her fortune from stock options she was granted when she joined the social media giant in 2008. She also received a hefty sum of money for selling her previous company, Survey Monkey, web-based survey development software company.
4. Rihanna
Rihanna, the award-winning singer and fashion designer, is worth an estimated $1.4 billion according to Investopedia. She made her money by selling millions of records worldwide as well as through her lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as LVMH, Fenty Beauty and Puma. Additionally, she also has a successful fashion line with luxury retailer LVMH.
5. Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is worth an estimated $1 billion according to Celebrity Net Worth. She revolutionized the shapewear industry with her innovative product idea and quickly turned it into a multi-million dollar business. She was also one of the first female entrepreneurs to sign The Giving Pledge, vowing to donate half or more of her wealth to charity.
6. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, the Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, is worth an estimated $740 million according to Yahoo. She made her money by selling millions of albums and merchandise around the world as well as through lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Diet Coke and Keds.
7. Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington, the founder of The Huffington Post, is worth an estimated $100 million according to Wealthy Gorilla. She made her money by selling her website to AOL in 2011 for a reported $315 million. Prior to that sale, she had raised millions of dollars from venture capitalists and investors who believed in her vision for the news organization.
8. Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner is currently the youngest self-made billionaire at just 25 years old and has a net worth of $750 million according to ClutchPoints. She made her fortune primarily through her cosmetics line Kylie Cosmetics which has become one of the most successful beauty brands in the world. Additionally, she also makes money through endorsements and sponsorships as well as appearing on reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
9. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, the country music superstar, is worth an estimated $650 million according to Parade. She made her fortune through record sales and live performances but she also has a successful career in film, television and theater with films like 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias as well as her theme park Dollywood. Additionally, she makes money from book deals and merchandising.
10. Beyonce
Beyonce, the multi-platinum selling singer, is worth an estimated $500 million according to Hello Magazine. She made her fortune primarily through music sales and touring but also makes money from endorsements with companies like Pepsi and H&M as well as her clothing line Ivy Park.
11. Madonna
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, is worth an estimated $850 million according to TheThings. She made her fortune primarily through music sales and touring but also makes money from endorsements with companies like Reebok and Pepsi as well as her now discontinued clothing line Material Girl. Additionally, she has a successful acting career in films such as Evita and Desperately Seeking Susan.
Conclusion
Self-made women are a testament to what is possible with hard work and dedication. Women entrepreneurs everywhere can look up to these inspiring female billionaires and millionaires as an example of how success can be achieved in today’s world. With the right vision, business plan, and determination, anything is possible!
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