Walton tops the list for the second year in a row with an estimated fortune of $134 billion. She first claimed the top spot in 2024, overtaking Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress to the L'Oréal empire.
Bettencourt Meyers now ranks second with about $100 billion, followed by Julia Koch, widow of industrialist David Koch, with $81.2 billion.
The Forbes list shows that 481 women are among the world’s 3,428 billionaires this year, making up about 14% of the total — a slight increase from last year.
In fourth place is Iris Fontbona, a Chilean mining and beverage heiress with $52.6 billion, followed by Jacqueline Mars, of the Mars Incorporated family fortune.
Among the top 10, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, co-founder of shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company, is the only self-made billionaire woman.
Overall, 122 women on the list built their fortunes themselves, including U.S. businesswoman Diane Hendricks.
The ranking also features several famous entertainers. Beyoncé made her debut as a billionaire this year, joining other self-made stars such as Rihanna and Taylor Swift.
Another notable newcomer is Brazilian entrepreneur Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of prediction-market firm Kalshi. At 29, she becomes the youngest self-made female billionaire on the list.
