The second richest woman in the world is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers – and she has a fortune of $92.4billion. But what is known about the L’Oréal heiress?
The world’s second wealthiest woman boasts a staggering fortune of £68.5 billion (or $92.4b), yet her name remains largely unknown to the general public.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, 72, inherited the L’Oréal empire built by her grandfather Eugene Paul Louis Schueller.
She sat on the company’s board of directors from 1997 until stepping down this February.
Bettencourt Meyers claimed her position as heir to the cosmetics giant following her mother’s passing in 2017.
Her fight for the inheritance unfolded dramatically in French courts, culminating in eight individuals being convicted of taking advantage of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, reports the Express.
She currently holds 20th position on Forbes’ global billionaire rankings. So how does Bettencourt Meyers spend her vast wealth?
The family’s charitable foundation champions scientific research and artistic endeavours, whilst her relatives pledged $226 million towards Notre Dame Cathedral’s restoration following the devastating 2019 blaze.
Despite her enormous riches, Bettencourt Meyers claims her circle of friends has remained unchanged throughout the years.
Speaking to French publication Le Monde, she revealed she had always been “quite attentive to the sincerity of others” during her youth, adding: “If someone had wanted to marry me on the pretext that I had money, I would have seen it.”
She also revealed her thoughtful approach to raising her two sons, ensuring they remained grounded despite their family’s vast wealth to “protect them” from developing an unhealthy fixation on money.
“Our method was to spend a lot of time with them. I always traveled with both of them, but also with one, then the other, separately. We interested them in the outside world, in culture, in art. My husband and I always make sure to listen to them, to let them achieve their goals,” Bettencourt Meyers explained.
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The globe’s wealthiest woman is Alice Walton, 75, who claims 16th spot on the Forbes billionaires list with a fortune of approximately £84 billion ($112.5b).
Walton is the sole daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and has carved out a distinguished career as an art curator.
She is the proprietor of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, which showcases masterpieces by renowned artists including Mark Rothko and Andy Warhol.
She has declared her dedication to being “committed to increasing access to arts, improving education, enhancing health, and advancing economic opportunity for all”.
Sitting just beneath Bettencourt Meyers is Julia Koch and family, occupying 22nd position on the billionaires list.
Koch, 63, came into possession of a 42% stake alongside her children in Koch Inc. following her husband David Koch’s passing in 2019.
She boasts a net worth of roughly £55.3 billion ($74.2b).