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3. Alice Walton: The New Queen of Billions

In the world of billionaires, competition is fierce, and the battles are relentless. This year, a new queen has risen to the top of the world's richest individuals: Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart empire.

With an estimated net worth of $107.5 billion as of March — up from $95.8 billion in September 2024 — Alice Walton has overtaken France’s Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, daughter of the legendary L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

At 74, Alice Walton is not a media darling—at least not in the way that her billionaire peers like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos are. Known for her passion for art and horseback riding, she ranks 13th on Forbes’ global billionaire list for March. Unlike the tech moguls who built their empires from the ground up, Walton inherited her wealth quietly, as the daughter of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, the retail giant that made the family fortune.

However, Alice Walton did not follow the traditional path of the family business. Instead, she carved out her own trajectory, one that led her far from store aisles and deep into the world of art. Driven by a deep passion for the arts, she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas — a private institution home to priceless works of American art. This artistic and less corporate-oriented approach sets her apart from other heirs of great American fortunes.

Alongside her dedication to the arts, Alice Walton is also a prominent philanthropist. She has committed a significant portion of her wealth to supporting the arts, funding education initiatives, and investing in community development projects. She embodies a different side of wealth — one rooted in social and cultural contribution. Walton has opted for a life of simplicity, far from the spotlight and detached from luxury. Her day-to-day life is defined by modesty, not extravagance.

The Takeover of the Throne

Alice Walton’s rise to the top of the wealth rankings has had consequences for another high-profile figure: Françoise Bettencourt Meyers. The L'Oréal heiress had long held the title of the world’s richest woman according to Forbes.

Behind Françoise Bettencourt Meyers lies a true legend. The only daughter of Liliane Bettencourt, the wealthiest woman in the world before her passing in 2017, Françoise inherited her mother's immense fortune. A key figure in the management of L'Oréal, where she plays a vital role in the company’s strategic direction, she is also an author, musician, and a passionate advocate for art and culture.

While Alice Walton now holds the top spot on the list of the world's richest women, this doesn’t signal the end of Françoise Bettencourt Meyers' ascent. However, this shift in the global wealth race highlights that today's billionaires are not confined to traditional industries. Today’s influential women of the world are reshaping the rules of the game and proving that immense wealth can be leveraged in creative and sustainable ways to make a lasting impact on society.