Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, already known as the world's richest woman, made history on Thursday by becoming the first female to amass a fortune exceeding $100 billion—precisely $100.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
As the vice-chair of L'Oréal's board and the primary owner with about 35% of its shares, Bettencourt Meyers saw her wealth rise thanks to the unprecedented success of L'Oréal SA stocks, setting the stage for one of the company's best years in over two decades.
Even though she outshines other female L'Oréal , Bettencourt Meyers isn't among the top 10 richest people globally and isn't even the wealthiest woman in France. Ranked at number 12, she falls behind fellow countryman Bernard Arnault, the influential figure behind LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, who holds the second spot on the Billionaires Index with a fortune of $179.4 billion. Elon Musk leads the pack with a comfortable $238 billion.
In contrast to the extravagant lifestyles of many billionaires, the 70-year-old Bettencourt Meyers is known for her privacy and introverted nature. She's the author of two books—one on the Bible and the other on Greek mythology—and is a dedicated pianist, spending hours practicing each day.
Despite her efforts to stay out of the public eye, Bettencourt Meyers made headlines for nearly a decade due to a legal battle over her inheritance. The 2017 Netflix documentary 'L'Affaire Bettencourt recounts her legal tussle with François-Marie Banier, an artist and friend, to whom her mother intended to gift a billion dollars in cash, real estate, and art. Following her mother's passing, Bettencourt Meyers sued Banier, who was ultimately convicted of abuse.
Founded in 1909 by chemist Eugène Schueller, L'Oréal has grown into a $268 billion company, contributing to the rich tradition of successful luxury goods companies in France alongside LVMH. The country has also given rise to other wealthy families, including the owners of Hermès International SCA and the Wertheimers, who own Chanel.
