Meet the Richest Women in Europe: New Billionaire Data Revealed

In a world where groceries cost more than gold and the economic forecast has all the charm of a tax return, one group is quietly thriving: female billionaires.

While the average household tightens its belt, the ranks of ultra-wealthy women are expanding—and not just by a handbag or two.

A new report from TradingPedia dives deep into Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List and reveals a striking shift in the global financial landscape: there are now more female billionaires than ever before, with 390 women holding a collective fortune north of $1.996 trillion.

Europe alone accounts for 129 of them, packing a combined wealth of $598.4 billion. Germany leads the charge, home to 46 female billionaires—more than any other country on the continent.

To put that into perspective, there are currently 758 billionaires in Europe. Around 13.9% of them are women, and they are not just sipping champagne on yachts—they’re holding the purse strings of major industries.

Germany Leads the Pack

With a cool $167.3 billion spread across its 46 female billionaires, Germany tops the leaderboard. The country’s richest woman, Susanne Klatten, is worth $22.7 billion and owns a significant stake in both Altana, a chemicals and pharmaceuticals firm, and auto titan BMW. Klatten inherited the bulk of her wealth after the death of her father, a trend echoed across the continent.

Italy follows with 22 female billionaires worth a collective $60.8 billion. Sweden has 10, whose combined net worth sits at $43.6 billion, with each holding assets valued at over $1 billion.

But the crown jewel of European wealth? Françoise Bettencourt Meyers of France. With a staggering $79.8 billion to her name, the 71-year-old L’Oréal heiress is not only Europe’s richest woman but also the second-richest woman globally, trailing only Walmart’s Alice Walton. She ranks as the 20th wealthiest person on the planet.

Inherited Wealth vs. Self-Made Titans

The report notes a clear divide in how these fortunes were amassed. Much of the old money has passed down through family empires. Germany’s Susanne Klatten and Italy’s Paola Del Vecchio—daughter of the late Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica (Ray-Ban, Oakley, and friends)—are prime examples.

But it’s not all heirlooms and hand-me-downs.

Switzerland’s Rafaela Aponte-Diamant stands out as a self-made powerhouse. Alongside her husband Gianluigi, she owns half of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest shipping line. With a net worth of $34.1 billion, Aponte-Diamant is the fifth-richest woman in the world and the 43rd richest person overall.

The Global View

While Europe is making significant strides, the United States still holds the global crown for female billionaires, boasting 120 in total.

The wealth patterns are strikingly similar on both sides of the Atlantic, with most fortunes either inherited or tied to long-standing family businesses.

Yet the rise in female billionaires also signals something more profound—a slow but steady erosion of barriers that once kept women away from boardrooms, IPOs, and ownership stakes. From inherited empires to self-made shipping magnates, these women are redefining what wealth looks like in the 21st century.

As inequality continues to dominate headlines and the economic playing field remains far from level, the ascent of female billionaires may not solve systemic issues—but it certainly reshuffles the deck at the top.