WORLD'S SIXTEENTH WEALTHIEST
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Chairwoman, L'Oréal; Heiress to L'Oréal Fortune
Estimate — based on private holdings & editorial research
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the granddaughter of L'Oréal founder Eugène Schueller and the daughter of Liliane Bettencourt. She chairs the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation and is the world's wealthiest woman. A trained pianist, she has also authored books on biblical history and the Greek gods.
Wealth in Context
Figures calculated from current net worth estimate
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers's net worth equals 26 years of all U.S. federal mental health research funding
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers's net worth could cover one year's school costs for every man, woman, and child in Tennessee
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers's net worth could build 1,960 new public schools
Source: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, 2023
Holdings Breakdown
| Company | Ticker | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
International Holdings Forbes 2025 Billionaires List | foreign exchange | $98B | ||
About holdings: Wealth is primarily tied to her ~35.1% family stake in L'Oréal S.A., traded on Euronext Paris (OR.PA). L'Oréal shares are not listed on U.S. exchanges. The Bettencourt family stake is held through the family holding company Téthys.
Philanthropic Impact
Based on public foundation records, press releases, and giving pledges
Total known giving
$600 million
documented public giving only
Foundation
Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
Bettencourt Schueller Foundation — science, arts, and philanthropic initiatives
$500 million
estimated cumulative grants and endowment through 2024
The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation is one of France's largest private foundations. It funds life sciences research through the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences, supports music education and arts patronage, and invests in social entrepreneurship through the Coup de Pouce program.
How this is calculated
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers's public stock holdings are sourced from SEC Form 4 filings and annual proxy statements. Net worth is calculated as (shares held × current market price) + private wealth estimate. The private wealth estimate is sourced from Forbes 2025 Billionaires List and is updated periodically — it does not change with market movements. Full methodology →