L'Oréal heir Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is 1st woman with $100 billion fortune

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress of the L'Oréal empire, has become the world's first woman to amass a staggering $100 billion fortune.

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress of the L'Oréal empire, has become the world's first woman to amass a staggering $100 billion fortune.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, her wealth soared to $100.1 billion on Thursday, propelled by the phenomenal success of L'Oreal SA, the beauty products empire with roots traced back to her grandfather.

Currently, she holds the 12th position on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, surpassing top billionaires such as Mukesh Ambani, Amancio Ortega, and Gautam Adani.

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, aged 70 and known for her reclusive lifestyle, holds the position of vice-chair on the board of L'Oréal, a global giant valued at $268 billion, where her family commands nearly 35 per cent of the stake, making them the single biggest shareholders.

Her sons, Jean-Victor Meyers and Nicolas Meyers, also serve as directors in the company.

The recent surge in Meyers' wealth is attributed to the record-high performance of L'Oreal's shares, positioning the stock for its best year since 1998.

However, her wealth remains significantly less than that of French counterpart Bernard Arnault, founder of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, who holds the second spot globally with a net worth of $179 billion.