Imagine
for a moment what it would be like to be a billionaire. No more
picking up after the kids, doing dishes, worrying about how much
a dress costs or pinching pennies to save for an amazing vacation.
New list of the world's billionaires, that dream is a reality. But
it's not just their 10-figure fortunes that make us envious. Some
of these women are famous; some wield enormous power; some have
fascinating careers. Some have all three. |
|
| |
 |
|
Charlene
de Carvalho-Heineken $7.2 bil
Netherlands
Carvalho-Heineken inherited a 25% stake in her namesake brewery.
Now sits on Heineken's supervisory board with investment banker
husband Michel de Carvalho. Member of St. Moritz's elite Corviglia
Ski Club. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
Esther
Koplowitz |
Alicia
Koplowitz |
|
|
Esther
Koplowitz, $5.6 billion
Alicia Koplowitz, $5 billion
Spain
Stylish sisters, members of Spanish nobility, inherited their
family's construction firm Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas.
The duo took over management in 1989, but Esther, who is still
a director, bought out Alicia's stake in 1997. Alicia is currently
working on launching one of Spain's first hedge funds. |
|
| |
More
on Esther Koplowitz |
|
| |
|
|
| |
More
on Alicia Koplowitz |
|
| |
by
forbes
|
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Abigail
Johnson, $13 billion
U.S.
With her family, controls Fidelity Investments, America's
largest mutual fund company. Abigail runs the employer services
division; dad Ned is chief. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Oprah
Winfrey, $1.5 billion
U.S.
Daytime television queen recently opened the Oprah Winfrey
Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
J.K.
Rowling, $1 billion
U.K.
Welfare mom turned Harry Potter scribe now the only author
on Forbes' billionaires list. She plans to release the seventh,
and final, Harry Potter installment in July. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Heidi
Horten, $3.4 billion
Austria
Austria's "Merry Widow" inherited her late husband's
riches in 1987. Now divides her time between four homes and
the 315-foot mega-yacht Carinthia VII. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Susanne
Klatten, $9.6 billion
Germany
Klatten, who trained as an economist, is big shareholder in
BMW and chemical manufacturer Altana. In line for a nice windfall:
Altana sold its pharmaceutical division for $6 billion, of
which she will pocket about half. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
Anne
Cox Chambers |
Barbara
Cox Anthony |
|
|
Anne
Cox Chambers, $12.6 billion
Barbara Cox Anthony, $12.6 billion
U.S.
Heiresses to the Cox Communications fortune. Barbara's son,
James, serves as the company's chairman. |
|
| |
More
on Anne Cox Chambers |
|
| |
|
|
| |
More
on Barbara Cox Anthony |
|
| |
by
forbes
|
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Meg
Whitman, $1.3 billion
U.S.
Harvard M.B.A. worked up the corporate ladder at companies
like Procter & Gamble and Disney before finally landing
top auctioneer spot at eBay in 1998. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|
| ............................................................................................ |
 |
|
Maria
Aramburuzabala, $2 billion
Mexico
Mexico's richest woman is granddaughter of the founder of
Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona and other beers, now 50% owned
by Anheuser-Busch. |
|
| |
More
>> |
|
| |
by
forbes |
|
|