World’s Richest Women 2011 – Women Billionaires

Forbes released the 2011 list  of billionaires, there are 1,210 billionaires in the world in 2011, up from 1,011 last year. Of those, 102 are women, up from 89 in 2010.

The 20 richest women in the world hold the purse strings to a combined $232 billion.

While the majority of their wealth was inherited – just one woman in the top 20 has a self-made fortune- -many are putting their money to good use in philanthropy.

1.Christy Walton, 56, & family

Net worth:$24.5 billion

Source: Wal-Mart, U.S.

The widow of John Walton inherited her wealth after he died in an airplane accident in 2005. Repeating her 2010 title as world’s richest woman, she got an extra bump in her fortune because of her late husband’s early investment in First Solar; shares up nearly 500% since 2006 initial public offering.

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2.Liliane Bettencourt,88

Net worth: $23.5 billion

Source: L’Oreal, France

France’s richest woman is heir to French cosmetic giant, L’Oreal, founded by her late father.

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3.Alice Walton, 61

Net worth:$20.9 billion

Source: Walmart, U.S.

The Wal-Mart heiress’s Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art set to open in Bentonville, Ark., this November. Her father, Sam Walton (d. 1922), a former clerk, founded original Bentonville store with brother James 1962. Today Wal-Mart has sales of $405 billion, employs more than 2.1 million people.

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4.Iris Fontbona & family

Net worth: $19.2 billion

Source: Mining, Chile

Second wife, and now widow, of billionaire Andronico Luksic, who died of cancer in 2005. Family controls Antofagasta, one of the world’s largest copper miners.

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5.Susanne Klatten, 48

Net worth:$14.6 billion

Source: BMW, pharmaceuticals, Germany

Inherited stake in automaker BMW from late father Herbert Quandt, who rescued it from bankruptcy in the early 1960s. A trained economist with an M.B.A., Klatten also inherited a 50% stake in chemical manufacturer Altana and has since increased her control of the company to 100% and delisted the firm.

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6.Birgit Rausing, 87, & family

Net worth: $14 billion

Source: Packaging, Sweden

After death of her husband Gad Rausing in 2000, inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval along with her three children. In 1944 her father-in-law founded the company, which revolutionized the packaging of liquids such as juices and milk.

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7.Anne Cox Chambers, 91

Net worth: $13.4 billion

Source: Cox Enterprises, U.S.

Daughter of Cox Enterprises founder James M. Cox (d. 1957), who finished high school at 17 and worked as a schoolteacher and newspaper reporter before shelling out $26,000 for the Dayton Evening News in 1898.

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8.Savitri Jindal, 61

Net worth: $13.2 billion

Source: Steel, India

Chairs $12 billion (revenues) O.P. Jindal Group, a steel and power conglomerate founded by her late husband Om Prakash Jindal, who died in a helicopter crash in 2005. In practice, however, it is her four sons–Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan and Naveen–who run the businesses.

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9.Abigail Johnson, 49

Net worth: $11.3 billion

Source: Fidelity, U.S.

With father controls Fidelity Investments, America’s largest mutual fund company. Firm also boasts large brokerage business and insurance outfit. Father Ned joined his father’s company as analyst 1957, president 15 years later.

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10.Jacqueline Mars, 71

Net worth: $10 billion

Source: Candy, pet food, U.S.

Cash-strapped consumers still have appetite for the Mars family’s nearly recession-proof products: chocolate (Snickers, M&Ms), pet food (Pedigree). Created world’s largest confectionery company by acquiring gum maker Wrigley in 2008 for $23 billion. Combined sales now exceed $30 billion.

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11.Johanna Quandt, 84

Net worth: $9.8 billion

Source: BMW, Germany

Former secretary and third wife of the late Herbert Quandt, German executive who rescued auto maker BMW from bankruptcy. Retired from BMW’s supervisory board in 1997; still owns 17% of the $72 billion (sales) auto maker. Her children, Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt, have large stakes as well and are also billionaires. Lives quietly in spa town of Bad Homburg near Frankfurt.

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12.Georgina Rinehart, 57

Net worth: $9 billion

Source: Mining, Australia

High iron ore prices and rising exports to China more than quadrupled her fortune in one year, but it was domestic issues that put her in the headlines.

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13.Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, 56

Net worth: $7.5 billion

Source: Heineken, Netherlands

Inherited 25% stake in Dutch brewer Heineken nine years ago from her late father, Freddy Heineken. Company has more than 170 premium brands in more than 65 countries. Mother of five, studied law at the University of Leiden.

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14.Blair Parry-Okeden, 60

Net worth: $6.7 billion

Source: Cox Enterprises, U.S.

Granddaughter of Cox Enterprises founder James M. Cox (d. 1957), Parry-Okeden inherited 25% stake in business after mother, Barbara Cox Anthony, passed away in 2007.

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15.Antonia Johnson, 67

Net worth: $6.5 billion

Source: Diversified, Sweden

One of Sweden’s richest women. In 1982 succeeded her father as head of the Axel Johnson Group, a diversified trading company founded by her great-grandfather in 1873. The privately held $6.3 billion (sales) group has interests in everything from energy to telecom to real estate.

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16.Dorothea Steinbruch & family

Net worth: $5.8 billion

Source: Steel, Brazil

Widow and her children control one of Brazil’s largest steelmakers, Companhia Siderugica Nacional (CSN). She is not involved in running the business; son Benjamin serves as chairman and chief executive of CSN; company made an unsuccessful bid for Cimpor, Portugal’s largest cement manufacturer, last year. Family also owns Banco Fibra; son Ricardo is chairman of the board.

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17.Wu Yajun, 47, & family

Net worth: $5.5 billion

Source: Real Estate, China

The richest self-made woman in the world is a former journalist. Wu graduated from the Department of Navigation Engineering of the Northwestern Polytechnical University in 1984, and from 1988 to 1993 worked as a journalist and editor with the China Shirong News Agency. Shares in Wu’s Hong Kong-listed real estate developer Longfor Properties rose by a quarter from a year earlier, and contract sales for 2010 soared 81% from a year earlier to $5 billion. From its roots in Chongqing in central China, Longfor has been expanding in relatively profitable markets in first-tier cites. Longfor listed its shares in Hong Kong Nov. 2009. Wu shares her fortune with her husband, who also holds a stake in the company.

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18.Shari Arison, 53

Net worth: $5.1 billion

Source: Carnival Cruises, Israel

Israel’s richest woman inherited two of the country’s largest companies: $75 billion (assets) Bank Hapoalim and infrastructure behemoth Housing & Construction. Stake in Carnival Cruise increased 10% in value over last 12 months. Launched Miya, a $100 million venture dedicated to reducing leaks in underground water pipes. Eccentric heiress published book outlining philosophy of connecting business with spirituality. Created controversy in Israel for speaking of “visions” and premonitions of global crisis and Hurricane Katrina.

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19.Pauline MacMillan Keinath, 77

Net worth: $4.7 billion

Source: Cargill, U.S.

Heiress is one of seven relatives on Forbes 400 thanks to vast wealth created by Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S. in which the family owns an 88% stake.

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20.Marion MacMillan Pictet, 78

Net worth: $4.7 billion

Source: Cargill, U.S.

Heiress is one of seven billionaire relatives with a combined net worth of $26 billion thanks to vast wealth created by Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S. The family owns an 88% stake in the company whose 2010 sales were $107.9 billion.

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Source: Forbes Magazine