Only 14 of the world’s 1,011 billionaires are women who made their own money rather than inherited all or part of it. It is a small but impressive group that includes Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling and California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.
Chief executive of real estate developer Longfor Properties; took it public on Hong Kong stock exchange 2008. As an engineer, worked at Qianwei Meter Factory for four years; spent next five working at the China Shirong News Agency. Shortly after, began developing real estate in her hometown of Chongqing. Now has properties in 10 cities.
Helped then husband Amancia Ortega make dressing gowns, lingerie in their home. It became one of world’s most successful apparel manufacturers, Inditex, which owns Zara stores. Couple divorced years ago, but Mera still holds 7% stake; at time of IPO, also got $600 million in cash, which she’s invested in a Spanish film production outfit, a marine fish farming group, a company that looks for cancer treatment in compounds found in the sea and a maker of a fingerprinting identification system for newborns. Her Paideia Foundation helps people with physical and mental disabilities.
Powerful wife of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov started out as a factory worker, then entered the Moscow Institute of Management. In 1991 started plastic-products company Inteko, which produced furniture and crockery but has since expanded into construction and construction materials. Froze construction on several expensive real estate projects in Moscow as result of 2008 financial crisis. Now her newly formed company, Patriot, is focusing on affordable housing. Helped restore gigantic monument, Worker and Collective Farmer, reinstalled in November 2009, at a cost of $100 million.
Founded Gap in 1969 with her late husband Donald, who died in September of cancer at age 81. Originally a San Francisco jeans and music store, Gap empire grew to more than 3,000 locations and expanded to include Banana Republic, Gap Kids, and Old Navy. Owns large contemporary art collection. Handed control to sons John, Robert and William in 2004.
U.K. citizen is the biggest shareholder in Renhe Commercial Holdings, which listed in Hong Kong in 2008 and runs shopping centers that occupy were underground military shelters. Graduated from China’s Heilongjiang University in 1986 with a degree in Chinese literature.
Born to a single teenage mother, Oprah grew up on grandmother’s farm in Mississippi. Moved to Wisconsin where she says she was a victim of sexual abuse. Talk show debuted in 1986, now a haven for women worldwide. Guests range from celebrities to politicians to victims of abuse. Expanded empire includes broadcasts around world, O magazine, esteemed book club and “favorite things” lists. Daytime talk queen is moving show to a night slot on new Oprah Winfrey Network cable channel.
In 1965 formed Benetton group with siblings: Luciano, Carlo and Gilberto. The $2.7 billion (sales) clothing company sells brands like United Colors of Benetton, Sisley. Edizione, the family holding company, owns stakes in Atlantia, one of world’s largest toll-road companies, and Autogrill restaurants, which serve customers on highways and in airports around the world. Giuliana originally knitted sweaters that brother Luciano would then peddled by bicycle.
Hong Kogn tycoon chairs Huabao International, which makes tobacco flavorings for China’s top cigarette makers; also makes fragrances and food flavorings for use in detergents, beverages, dairy products and cosmetics. Founded the company a decade ago and took it public through a reverse takeover. Sold chunk of shares in 2008 and again in October 2009; still owns a big stake.
Founded and runs Beijing property developer Soho China with her husband, Pan Shiyi. Last year made the biggest land purchase in Beijing by a non-state-owned company, $586 million in 12 acres. Earned a master’s degree in development economics from Cambridge University in 1992. Got start at international firms Goldman Sachs, Travelers Group.
China’s paper queen makes a big comeback: Worth $265 million in October 2008, her fortune is up sixfold with a resurging stock market. Daughter a Guangdong Province army officer and eldest of eight children, Yan got her start importing waste paper in Hong Kong in 1985. After a stint running a recycling plant in the U.S., Yan returned to China to launch Nine Dragons (whose name implies “highest fortune”) with her husband and brother. All three are billionaires; she is chairman.
Former eBay head recently won Republican nomination for California governor. Has spent an estimated #70 million from her personal coffers. Got taste for politics as cochair of John McCain’s presidential run in 2008. Joined eBay in 1998; led through Internet boom and bust. Expanded services to Europe, Asia, Latin America. Acquired PayPal, Skype, StubHub. Resigned from boards of eBay, Procter & Gamble and DreamWorks last year to concentrate on gubernatorial race. Earlier in her career, Princeton grad had worked at P&G, Disney and Hasbro.
Real estate investor is developing properties in Jinbao Street, Beijing’s luxury shopping district. Customers and partners include the Regent Hotel, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ferrari and Lamborghini. Chan is also curator and founder of Chian Red Sandalwood Musuem. Exchanges between the museum and others, such as the Smithsonians, have mader her a “cultural diplomat.”
Runs Tibet Cheezheng Tibetan Medicine, which makes ointments, plasters and powders designed to relieve pain and respiratory problems. Shares, first publicly offered in August, trade at 46 times trailing earnings. Has a degree in vacuum physics.
World’s richest author expecting big 2010. Theme park “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” opening on June 18 at Universal Studios, Orlando. Film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 debuting later this year; Part II in 2011. Six previous Potter films have grossed more than $5 billion. Her wizard tales have been translated in 65 languages. Personal story is nearly as magical: single mother living on welfare completed her first book in 1997. A year later Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published in the U.S. and became a literary sensation.
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