Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L’Oréal empire, has an estimated net worth of $95 billion, making her the second richest woman in the world and the 20th richest person overall, according to Forbes. Her fortune was inherited from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who in turn inherited it from her father, L’Oréal founder Eugène Schueller.
Despite her immense wealth, Françoise lives a low-profile life, which is why many people haven’t heard of her. She owns about 33% of L’Oréal and serves on its board as chairwoman of the family holding company, playing an active role in the business.
Married to Jean-Pierre Meyers, she converted to Judaism and raised her two sons in the faith. Her wealth continues to grow with L’Oréal’s international success and strong online sales.
Bloomberg estimates her fortune slightly higher at $95.9 billion, ranking her 19th globally. Unlike Bloomberg, Forbes includes Michael Bloomberg in its list, placing him 17th at $109.4 billion.