Françoise Bettencourt Meyers emerges as the richest woman, breaking the $100 billion barrier

In an unprecedented financial feat, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the elusive heir to the L’Oréal empire, has shattered records as the first woman to amass a staggering fortune surpassing £73 billion. Known for her reclusive lifestyle spent indulging in piano melodies and literary pursuits, Bettencourt Meyers, 70, has now claimed the title of the world’s wealthiest woman.

The monumental surge in L’Oréal’s stock catapulted her into this esteemed position, elevating her net worth to a jaw-dropping £100.1 billion. A remarkable accomplishment for the granddaughter of L’Oréal’s founder, Eugène Paul Louis Schueller, who established the iconic brand in 1909.

Bettencourt Meyers, whose family commands approximately 35 percent of L’Oréal shares, serves as the vice-chairperson on the company’s board, playing a pivotal role in its success. The French cosmetics giant, flourishing since the 1930s, solidified its place as a global beauty powerhouse.

Intriguingly, the L’Oréal heiress is not just a business tycoon; she is also a literary force. Having authored a five-volume study of the Bible and a genealogy of the Greek Gods, Bettencourt Meyers embodies both intellect and wealth.

While her wealth surged by a staggering £184 million in the latest valuation, Bettencourt Meyers inherited substantial assets from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, France’s richest woman until her demise in 2017. The mother-daughter relationship was not without its complexities, including a notable feud over the inheritance, as reported by Business Insider.

Closing 0.6 percent higher on December 28, L’Oréal shares reached 451.30 euros, marking a remarkable 35 percent increase year-to-date. Despite crossing the £73 billion threshold, Bettencourt Meyers is not the highest-ranked retail figure globally, with that distinction belonging to French retail magnate Bernard Arnault, founder of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

While the L’Oréal heiress now stands as the world’s richest woman, she faces stiff competition from the second wealthiest, Alice Walton, a fellow retail heir worth approximately £61.3 billion, according to Forbes. Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, remains a formidable contender in the realm of immense wealth.