This year, eight Indian women are featuring in Forbes ‘World’s Billionaires’ list which includes a total of 256 women billionaires, an unprecedented record.
The cumulative net worth of the women billionaires featuring in the list soared above $1 trillion, a 20% progress from last year. While most of the women in the standings inherited their wealth, 72 of them are self-made tycoons, another record. Last year only 52 of them could claim this achievement.
1) Savitri Jindal with a net worth of $8.8 billion is the richest Indian woman billionaire and is ranked 176th globally. She is the chairperson of Emrietus, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. In 1970, she married O.P Jindal, founder of the Jindal group, a steel and power multinational.
2) Founder of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the second richest Indian woman. She is, however, the richest self-made Indian woman billionaire and with a fortune of $3.6 million ranks at the 629th spot. She even stands higher that US President Donald Trump in the list.
3) Smita Crishna-Godrej is another Indian woman to appear on the list at the 822nd place thanks to her fortune of $2.9 billion. She was born in the Godrej clan and owns 20% stakes in her family holdings.
4) Chairman of private company USV India, Leena Tiwari is ranked 1020th with a net worth of $2.4 billion. Her company, founded by her late father, specializes in diabetic and cardiovascular drugs, with a range of products spanning from biosimilar drugs, injectables and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
5) Mother and son Vinod and Anil Rai Gupta, who obtained their wealth from a 43% holding in leading company Havells India owns a fortune of $2.2 billion, taking them to the 1,103rd spot. The company ran by son Anil produces everything from electrical and lighting fixtures to fans, refrigerators and washing machines. Havells India company was founded by Vinod’s late husband Qimat Rai Gupta in 1958. The company now has 12 factories and are present in 40 countries.
6) After leaving the prestigious Forbes ‘World’s Billionaires’ list in the last two years, Anu Aga makes her comeback at the 1,650th spot hence recovering her billionaire status. This comes after her company Thermax, in which she owns 62% and founded by her father A.S Bathena, rose in profits and success through new business. Thus, her fortune soared to $1.4 billion.
7 and 8) The 1,999th position is occupied by two Indian women, most notably, Sheela Gautam and Madhu Kapur, both possess $1.1 billion. Sheela Gautam founded Sheela Foam back in 1971, which is famous for its Sleepwell brand of mattresses. Madhu Kapur, a newcomer in this acclaimed list, made her fortune from a stake of 9.3% in BSE-limited Yes Bank Ltd.
Alice Walton is the highest ranked woman in this year’s list standing at the 16th spot. The only daughter of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, she inherited her fortune and possesses a net worth of $46 billion. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and family is the second richest woman in the world possessing $42.6 billion and stands at the 18th position on the world list. She amassed her fortune by owning a 33% stock in L’Oréal Company.
Germany’s richest woman, Susanne Klatten is the third richest woman in the world thanks to her 19.2% ownership of automaker company BMW AG. She possesses a net worth of $25 billion ranking her at the 32nd spot.