15 Of The Richest Women In The World

Life

3. Jacqueline Mars — Mars, Inc — $26,000,000,000

Jacqueline Mars is reaping the benefits given to her by her grandfather, Franklin Clarence Mars, who founded the company Mars Incorporated. His son, Forrest Edward Mars, is responsible for creating M&M’s and the Mars Bar. A number of other products made by Mars Incorporated include Snickers, Twix, 3 Musketeers, Galaxy, Maltesers, Juicy Fruit, Starburst, Excel, and 5 Gum. Looking through their products, particularly their gum, will make you think that Mars Incorporated has a monopoly on the chewing gum market.

Jacqueline Mars and her two brothers inherited $22 billion each.

As rich as she may be, Jacqueline Mars could not outrun the law. In 2013, Mars was involved in a car crash near her home and was charged with reckless driving. One person died at the scene, and a pregnant woman involved in the accident miscarried due to the collision. Mars told a witness that she had fallen asleep at the wheel and plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. I guess rich people get more lenient sentences after all.

2. Maria Franca Fissolo — Ferrero SpA — $29,800,000,000

Like so many people in the world, Maria Franca Fissolo married the love of her life — he just happened to become one of the wealthiest men in the world. Maria Franca Fissolo married Michele Ferrero in 1962. Ferraro’s father, Pietro, started Ferrero SpA originally used to supply his wife’s pastry shop. When he passed away, the business was given to his son, Michelle. Ferrero SpA is responsible for the brands Mon Cheri, Kinder Chocolate, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tacs, and Kinder Eggs and can be credited with creating Nutella.

Maria Franca Fissolo had two sons with her husband, Michele Ferrero. For a period of time, both of Maria’s sons ran Ferrero SpA. Her son, Giovanni, took over as co-CEO in 1987, continues to lead the company, and has repeatedly told media outlets that he plans to keep the company in the hands of his family. Her other son, Pietro, ran Ferrero SpA with his brother Giovanni for two decades before dying during a bike ride in South Africa.

In 2015, Michele Ferrero passed away, leaving his massive fortune to his wife, Maria Franca Fissolo.

1. Alice Walton — Wal-Mart — $37,900,000,000

The size of the Walton family fortune is insane. While we all know and understand how successful Wal-Mart is, the fact that Alice Walton and her family are worth a combined $145 billion is astonishing. Majority of the fortune amassed by Wal-Mart has stayed with the relatives of the founder, Sam Walton. Today, Alice Walton is considered the richest woman in the world, and she’s no stranger to throwing her money around.

With an estimated $11 billion in Walmart shares, Alice Walton thinks she can do just about whatever she wants. She’s been arrested multiple times for driving while intoxicated. Additionally, in 1989, she was responsible for the death of 50-year-old Oleta Hardin, but no charges were officially filed despite the fact that Walton was speeding when she hit Oleta Hardin. In 2011, Walton was arrested again for driving while intoxicated. Even though Walton’s attorney released a letter acknowledging she had driven while intoxicated, the charges were dropped by Texas prosecutors in 2013.