The Richest Women in the World- 2010
Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
by Carolyn Tytler
Did you ever wish to be rich? At one time or another, probably everyone has. There's a saying that money doesn't bring happiness. Let's look at the lives of the world's richest women and try to judge whether or not their wealth has made them any happier than the rest of us.
1. Christy Walton, 54 years old, is the widow of late John T. Walton, head of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart. Her husband died prematurely in 2005, at age 58 when an experimental plane he was piloting crashed . She inherited a fortune of $15.7 billion, which today has grown to US $ 20 billion. Christy and John had one son, Lucas. At age 3, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer but with the love and help of his parents, he has survived.
2. Alice Louise Walton, 61 years old, is the only daughter of Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart. Her fortune is estimated at US $ 19.5 billion. She has been divorced twice and presently lives on a ranch in Texas and raises horses. In 1989, she was driving too fast and killed a pedestrian in an automobile accident. She had received multiple speeding tickets in the prior twelve months. Ms. Walton was also convicted of drunken driving in January,1998.
3. Liliane Bettencourt , 88, of France, is Europe's wealthiest woman and the third richest woman in the world. Her fortune is about US $15 billion. She is the daughter of the founder of L'Oreal cosmetics, Eugene Schueller. Her husband, Andre, died in 2007. They had one child, a daughter, Francoise, to whom Liliane no longer speaks. In December, 2009, Francoise tried to put her mother under judicial supervision, charging that Liliane was no longer in full possession of her faculties.
4. Susanne Klatten, 48, is the richest woman in Germany and the fourth wealthiest in the world. She inherited a large number of stock shares in Altana Chemicals, BMW, and the SLG Group. Her fortune amounts to US $ 12 billion. At age 16, she was victim of an unsuccessful kidnapping plot. She is married with three children. In 2007, she was lured into an extramarital affair, then blackmailed with a sex tape. She paid 7.5 million euros to Heig Sgarbi, before turning him into police, after he demanded even more.
5. Birgit Rausing , 86, lives quietly in Switzerland. Her husband, Gad Rausing, died in 2000, leaving her as head of the huge Tetra Laval packaging industry. Her net worth is US $ 11 billion. All three of their children, Kirsten, Finn and Jorn sit on the company's supervisory board. The family keeps low profiles because of a frightening kidnapping attempt on Jorn in 1989.
6. Jacqueline Mars. It is difficult to find information about this lady, because the family is almost obsessively secretive. She is an American, the granddaughter and daughter of the founders of the Mars Candy Company. The firm also makes Whiskas and Pedigree pet food. Ms Mars is thought to be 69 years old. She has been divorced twice and has 3 children. She enjoys horses. That's about all that is known. Pictures of her are extremely scarce and she never gives interviews. She is reported to be worth US $ 9 billion.
Let's see, among the six richest women in the world, there have been family deaths, divorces, fatal accidents, a child with cancer, speeding tickets, a drunk driving charge, hostility with between a mother and daughter, a threat to have one of the women declared incompetent, failed kidnapping plots and fear of more attempts, an extramarital affair, blackmail with a sex tape and one pay-off, and a fetish for secrecy which involves at least two generations of the Mars family. And, these are only the incidents which the public knows about. There are probably more which have remained private.
Does money bring happiness? I think most of these ladies would respond with a definite, "No".
The rest of us may look on sceptically and think to ourselves, "Well. maybe not, but it would certainly make being miserable a lot more comfortable."
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Hi Carolyn thanks for sharing this piece it was very interesting. Who would think you could ever own that much money. Like you say and what is said that money can't by happiness, then I would like to say, if I had some in my pocket right now, it sure would put a smile on my face.Keep wellKacy
No wealth can't buy happiness but it does make living easier. Interesting article.
Though money cannot buy happiness, it can rent it!Great article, Carolyn
Thanks everyone, for taking the time to read and comment.
Well, I'd like to know where my riches are then, considering all of the things I have on my plate - I feel like I should be one of these women! But seriously - no - doesn't buy happiness. I actually think it buys a lot of loneliness & a lot of paranoia - because you're always worried that someone is after you or your money. At least when you don't have a huge amount of money - that's one less worry on your plate. No - money doesn't buy happiness - but a bit more would make life easier :-)
Very true, Tammy. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Point well made, Carolyn. I have met some wealthy happy peolpe but they have all been people who trust in God/Christ, not in money. ~mogama~
Great info--enjoyable read--thanks.
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