The World’s Richest Self-Made Women and How They Built Their Fortunes
Β The World’s Richest Self-Made Women and How They Built Their Fortunes
What would you do if you had the opportunity to build a business worth billions of dollars?
For some women, that question became more than a daydream. It became the beginning of extraordinary business journeys that transformed industries, created thousands of jobs and generated fortunes worth billions.
From a woman who helped build one of the world’s largest shipping companies to entrepreneurs who turned technology, healthcare and beauty businesses into global powerhouses, these women have something in common: they built substantial wealth through their own business ventures and professional achievements.
And no, we’re not talking about women who simply inherited family fortunes.
According to the 2026 Hurun Richest Self-Made Women in the World report, there are now 150 self-made women billionaires across 20 countries. Their combined wealth is estimated at approximately $470 billion.
But how did they get there?
Here are seven remarkable women whose business journeys show what is possible when ambition meets opportunity, strategy and persistence.
1. Diane Hendricks β The woman behind a $24 billion building supplies empire
Estimated net worth: $24 billion
Industry: Building materials and distribution
You probably wouldn’t guess that one of the world’s wealthiest self-made women made her fortune selling roofing materials.
But that’s exactly how Diane Hendricks built her business empire.
Born in Wisconsin, United States, Hendricks grew up on a dairy farm. Her journey into business wasn’t built around technology, fashion or celebrity influence.
In 1982, she and her late husband, Kenneth Hendricks, co-founded ABC Supply, a company that distributes roofing, siding and other building materials to contractors.
What started as a business venture eventually grew into one of America’s largest wholesale distributors of roofing and exterior building products.
After her husband’s death in 2007, Hendricks continued leading and expanding the business.
Her story is a reminder that enormous fortunes aren’t always built in glamorous industries. Sometimes, the biggest opportunities exist in businesses that supply everyday necessities.
How she built her fortune: Co-founding and expanding ABC Supply, alongside investments in other businesses and industries.
2. Zhong Huijuan β The pharmaceutical entrepreneur who built a healthcare fortune
Estimated net worth: $23 billion
Industry: Pharmaceuticals and healthcare
Zhong Huijuan is proof that the healthcare industry can create extraordinary business opportunities.
Before becoming one of China’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, Zhong worked as a chemistry teacher.
In 1995, she founded Hansoh Pharmaceutical, a company that initially focused on generic medicines before expanding into innovative drug development.
The company grew into a major pharmaceutical business with interests in oncology, diabetes and other therapeutic areas.
One of the major developments behind her growing fortune was a significant licensing agreement involving a cancer drug and pharmaceutical giant Roche.
Her journey is particularly interesting because she built her wealth in an industry where scientific knowledge, research and long-term investment matter enormously.
How she built her fortune: Founding Hansoh Pharmaceutical and growing it into a major pharmaceutical company.
3. Zhou Qunfei β From factory worker to touchscreen billionaire
Estimated net worth: $12.2 billion
Industry: Technology and manufacturing
This is one of the most remarkable stories on our list.
Zhou Qunfei grew up in a poor rural family in China. After facing difficult circumstances during her childhood, she left school as a teenager and moved to Shenzhen in search of better opportunities.
She worked in factories, where she gained experience in manufacturing and developed an interest in the industry.
In 1993, she started a small watch-glass manufacturing business.
That business eventually evolved into Lens Technology, a major manufacturer of glass components used in smartphones and other electronic devices.
Her company became an important supplier in the global consumer electronics industry.
Think about that for a moment: someone who once worked in a factory went on to build a company involved in producing components for devices used by millions of people worldwide.
How she built her fortune: Starting a glass manufacturing business and expanding into high-demand consumer electronics components.
4. Judy Faulkner β The woman who transformed hospital record-keeping
Estimated net worth: $9.3 billion
Industry: Healthcare technology
Not every billionaire builds a business that ordinary consumers interact with directly.
Judy Faulkner built hers by solving a problem within the healthcare industry.
In 1979, she founded Epic Systems, a healthcare software company that develops electronic health record systems used by hospitals and healthcare organisations.
Before digital health records became commonplace, hospitals struggled with managing enormous amounts of patient information.
Epic developed software designed to help healthcare providers organise medical records, coordinate patient care and manage hospital operations.
Over the years, the company became one of the major players in healthcare technology.
Faulkner also maintained a relatively private lifestyle despite her enormous wealth.
Her story demonstrates that you don’t necessarily need to create a product that everyone sees. Sometimes, building software that solves a critical problem for organisations can be just as lucrative.
How she built her fortune: Founding and retaining ownership in Epic Systems as the company expanded across the healthcare industry.
5. Oprah Winfrey β From television presenter to media billionaire
Estimated net worth: $3.8 billion
Industry: Media and entertainment
Oprah Winfrey’s story is one of the most recognisable examples of a woman turning talent and influence into a business empire.
Born into poverty in Mississippi, United States, Oprah experienced a difficult childhood before finding opportunities in broadcasting.
She began her career in radio and television, eventually becoming the host of her own talk show.
But what made Oprah’s financial journey particularly impressive was that she didn’t stop at being a television personality.
She negotiated ownership and production opportunities that allowed her to build a business beyond her on-screen career.
Through Harpo Productions, she gained greater control over the content she created. She later expanded into publishing, television networks and other media ventures.
Her influence became so significant that the term “Oprah effect” emerged to describe the impact her endorsements could have on products and businesses.
Her journey shows why ownership can be just as important as visibility.
How she built her fortune: Television, media production, publishing, investments and business ownership.
6. Falguni Nayar β The investment banker who built a beauty empire
Estimated net worth: $4.6 billion
Industry: Beauty, fashion and retail
Imagine spending decades building a career in investment banking, then leaving it behind to start a business in your late forties.
That’s exactly what Falguni Nayar did.
After a successful career in finance, Nayar founded Nykaa in 2012.
The company began as an online beauty retailer, offering consumers access to beauty and personal care products from different brands.
At a time when online beauty shopping was still developing in India, Nayar recognised an opportunity to build a trusted platform for customers looking for authentic products and a convenient shopping experience.
Nykaa eventually expanded beyond online retail into physical stores, private-label products and fashion.
The company went public in 2021, making Nayar one of India’s most prominent self-made businesswomen.
Her story challenges the idea that entrepreneurship has an age limit.
How she built her fortune: Founding Nykaa and expanding it into a major beauty and lifestyle retail business.
7. Melanie Perkins β The woman who made graphic design accessible to millions
Estimated net worth: More than $1 billion
Industry: Technology and software
If you’ve ever created a presentation, social media graphic or invitation using Canva, you’ve probably used something built by Melanie Perkins.
Perkins co-founded Canva in 2013 with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams.
Before Canva became a global design platform, Perkins noticed how difficult traditional design software could be for beginners.
She wanted to create a simpler platform that would allow ordinary people to design professional-looking graphics without needing advanced technical skills.
Getting investors to support the idea wasn’t easy. Perkins reportedly faced numerous rejections while trying to raise funding.
However, she continued pursuing the vision.
Canva eventually grew into one of the world’s most recognised online design platforms, used by individuals, businesses, schools and organisations.
Her journey is particularly inspiring because it demonstrates how identifying a frustrating everyday problem can become the foundation of a global business.
How she built her fortune: Co-founding Canva and growing it into a globally recognised software company.
What These Women Can Teach Us About Building Wealth
Although their industries and backgrounds are different, their journeys reveal several interesting lessons.
1. You don’t have to follow the traditional path
Some of these women started businesses after working in completely different industries. Others left school early or took unconventional routes into entrepreneurship.
There isn’t one universal formula for success.
2. Ownership matters
A recurring theme among these women is ownership.
Building a company, retaining equity and participating in the growth of a business can create wealth that goes far beyond earning a salary.
Oprah’s media empire, Zhou Qunfei’s manufacturing company and Falguni Nayar’s retail business are examples of this.
3. Solving problems creates opportunities
Many successful businesses begin with a simple observation.
Judy Faulkner saw an opportunity in healthcare software. Melanie Perkins wanted to simplify graphic design. Falguni Nayar recognised a gap in online beauty retail.
They didn’t necessarily invent entirely new industries. They found ways to improve existing ones.
4. Success doesn’t have an age limit
Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa at 49. Diane Hendricks built her fortune over decades. Their journeys challenge the pressure to achieve everything at a young age.
5. Wealth can come from unexpected industries
Not every billion-dollar opportunity involves technology or entertainment.
Building materials, pharmaceuticals, healthcare software and manufacturing have all created enormous fortunes.
Final Thoughts
The stories of these women go beyond impressive bank balances.
They show that wealth can be built in different industries, at different stages of life and through very different business models.
Some started with limited resources. Others had professional experience but took enormous risks by stepping into entrepreneurship.
Their journeys weren’t identical, and they certainly weren’t without challenges.
But one lesson stands out: having a good idea is only part of the equation. Building something valuable, making difficult decisions, adapting to change and maintaining ownership can make a remarkable difference.
And perhaps the most interesting question isn’t simply how much these women are worth.
It’s this: What problem could you solve that might become the foundation of your own business someday?
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