Bound by vast fortunes and powerful familial histories, a cohort of extraordinary rich women emerges as titans within the realm of finance and investments.
Originating from varied backgrounds and spanning the global landscape, these billionaires are united by their remarkable net worths, frequently passed down through generations, creating a legacy that has left an enduring impact on diverse industries.
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According to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List, here are the top 10 richest women in finance and investment industries as of February 15.
Abigail Johnson
With a net worth of $28.9 billion at the age of 62, Abigail Johnson is a powerhouse in the financial industry. She has served as the CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014, taking over from her father. Holding an estimated 28.5% stake in the firm, she has been its chairman since 2016. As the leader of one of the largest global investment management companies, Abigail has played a pivotal role in steering the company through the ever-changing landscape of financial markets.
Vicky Safra
At the age of 71, with a net worth of $18.1 billion, Vicky Safra, the matriarch of the Safra family. Inherited from her late husband and father, who stands as a prominent figure in the banking sector, banker Joseph Safra, Vicky Safra and her four adult children share a substantial fortune.
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Renata Kellnerova
Hailing from the Czech Republic, Renata Kellnerova, aged 56 with a net worth of $16.3 billion, is the widow of Petr Kellner, the former richest person in the Czech Republic. She has made a significant impact in the fields of finance and telecommunications. Kellnerova, along with her four children, controls PFF Group, a $44 billion conglomerate with interests in financial services, telecommunications, media, and real estate. Additionally, she chairs The Kellner Family Foundation, which focuses on education.
Elizabeth Johnson
As another luminary from Fidelity, Elizabeth Johnson, aged 60 with a net worth of $9.9 billion. She is the sister of the current Fidelity CEO and Chairman, Abigail Johnson, and owns about 6% of FMR, according to company documents filed with the Utah Department of Insurance in 2000.
Francine von Finck
With a net worth of $8.4 billion, the von Finck family, led by matriarch Francine, has made substantial investments in Germany. Francine von Finck and her four children inherited their fortune from her late husband and their father, August von Finck. August sold Merck Finck and Allianz shares to Barclays Bank in 1990 and reinvested the money in a diverse portfolio.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala
At the age of 60, with a net worth of $8.1 billion, Rekha Jhunjhunwala inherited a valuable stock portfolio from her late husband, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often referred to as India’s Warren Buffett. The most valuable listed holding in the portfolio is the watch and jewelry maker Titan, a part of the Tata conglomerate. The late jhunjhunwala’s early bets on Star Health and Allied Insurance and Metro Brands paid off when both companies listed in 2021.
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Nadia Thiele
Nadia Thiele, a notable figure in German investments, has risen through the ranks to become one of the wealthiest women in finance at the age of 48, boasting a net worth of $6.2 billion. She inherited her fortune from her late husband, billionaire industrialist Heinz Hermann Thiele. The most substantial part of her wealth is a stake in the brake-system firm Knorr-Bremse AG, a company her late husband took control of in the mid-1980s. Nadia Thiele is actively engaged as a member of Knorr-Bremse Global Care’s Executive Board, the company’s affiliated charity organization.
Karen Pritzker
At the age of 66, with a net worth of $6.1 billion, Karen Pritzker is one of 11 billionaire Pritzker heirs. Her grandfather, A.N. Pritzker (d. 1986), built the industrial conglomerate Marmon and Hyatt Hotels. Karen Pritzker has invested in public companies like Apple, as well as in hundreds of private biotech and medical device firms.
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Dinara Kulibaeva
At the age of 56, with a net worth of $4.8 billion, Dinara Kulibaeva from Kazakhstan has played a crucial role in shaping the banking sector in the region. As the daughter of Kazakhstan’s former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, she jointly owns a majority of Halyk Bank with her husband, Timur Kulibaev. Their diverse portfolio extends to investments in the construction, operation, and servicing of oil and gas wells.
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Penny Pritzker
Penny Pritzker, 64, with a net worth of $3.5 billion is actively engaged in hotels and investments. She is an investor and one of 11 billionaire heirs to the Pritzker fortune, which originates from Hyatt hotels. Additionally, she co-founded the property investment firm Artemis Real Estate Partners and previously served as the chair of the credit-reporting firm TransUnion.
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