$22.9 billion
Daughter of L'Oreal founder Eugene Schueller, a man who is said to have a checkered past with wartime ties to the Nazi regime, Liliane is the world's richest woman, thanks to her controlling stake in the cosmetics giant. She has held the stock for more than four decades. She became a widow last November when her 88-year-old husband, Andre Bettencourt, died. Her Bettencourt Schueller Foundation supports medical, cultural and humanitarian endeavors in France and developing countries.
Abigail Johnson (USA)
$15 billion
With her family, controls Fidelity Investments, America's largest mutual fund company. The Harvard M.B.A. became president of the Fidelity's mutual fund division in 2001 and now runs Employer Services department.
Yang Huiyan (China)
$7.4 billion
$7.4 billion
Mainland China's richest person, she inherited a 58% stake in real estate company Country Garden from its founder--her father--in 2005. At 26, the Ohio State University grad is one of the world's youngest billionaires.
Zhang Xin (China)
With husband Pan Shiyi, runs Beijing property developer SOHO China. One of China's best-known business couples, they are renowned for their stylish buildings. Got her start working as an analyst for Goldman Sachs in New York.
Oprah Winfrey (USA)
Oprah Winfrey (USA)
$2.5 billion
Queen of daytime television overcame impoverished childhood in rural Mississippi to become host of the nation's No. 1 talk show. Her empire continues to expand: She recently announced plans to launch OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Donated $40 million to create the Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Her open endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama fueled speculation about her power to influence.
Meg Whitman (USA)
$1.3 billion
Stepped down as chief executive of online auctioneer eBay on March 31, 2008, ending a 10-year run as head of one of the world's most popular Web sites. Self-made businesswoman has donated generously to her alma mater, Princeton University. Now appears to be setting her sites on politics. Recently signed on as national co-chair for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
J.K. Rowling (UK)
$1 billion
Welfare mom turned Harry Potter scribe now the only author on Forbes' billionaires list. Her seventh installment of the boy wizard series was released last July to throngs of fans, quickly becoming the fastest-selling book of all time. Feeding the frenzy was the movie version of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that very same month.
And many more...
