World's richest woman and Walmart heiress Alice Walton may soon be worth $100 billion: report

Alice Walton was born in Newport, Arkansas, in 1949. (Image: X)

Alice Walton, the Walmart heiress, has recently claimed the title of the world's wealthiest woman, surpassing Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress to the L'Oréal cosmetics empire. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Walton's net worth exceeded $95 billion, driven by a 44% surge in Walmart's stock price this year, which contributed an additional $25 billion to her fortune.

Walton's rise in wealth contrasts sharply with the financial trajectory of Bettencourt Meyers, who experienced a significant decline in her net worth, losing $10 billion this year. The downturn is largely attributed to a 13% drop in L'Oréal's share price since the beginning of the year. Bettencourt Meyers' wealth now stands at approximately $90 billion, placing her 19th on Bloomberg's rich list, just one spot behind Walton.

The Walton siblings, including Alice, Jim, and Rob, each inherited over 11% of Walmart's shares from their father, Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. The family's combined wealth has been further boosted by stock sales and dividends, estimated by Bloomberg to have contributed more than $15 billion over time. As a result, Jim Walton's net worth has reached $98 billion, while Rob Walton follows closely with $95.8 billion.

Alice Walton, born in Newport, Arkansas, in 1949, has largely focused on art and philanthropy rather than the day-to-day operations of Walmart. She established the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2011. Her wealth continues to grow, and if it surpasses the $100 billion mark, she will join an exclusive group of centi-billionaires that includes Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett.

In contrast, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who holds a 35% stake in L'Oréal, inherited the cosmetics empire from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, in 2017. Despite the recent downturn, L'Oréal remains the world's largest cosmetics company, with a portfolio that includes well-known brands such as Garnier and Maybelline.