These Are The Richest Women In America On The 2025 Forbes 400

Key Concepts:

• Forbes 400 list
• Net worth
• Inherited wealth vs. self-made wealth
• Industry representation (Food & Beverage)
• Walmart stock performance
• Conglomerate ownership
• Healthcare software
• Building supplies distribution

Forbes 400: Gender Disparity

• The Forbes 400 list continues to be male-dominated.
• In 2025, only 62 women are on the list, representing 15.5% of the ranking.
• This is a decrease from 67 women (17%) in the previous year (2024).
• This marks the first decline in female representation since 2019.
• Collectively, the 62 women are worth $872 billion, an increase from $839 billion in 2024.

Richest Women on the Forbes 400 (2025)

• Alice Walton:
  • Net worth: $66 billion.
  • Rank: 15th richest person in the US, wealthiest woman in the US for the ninth year in a decade.
  • Source of wealth: Walmart shares (co-founded by her father, Sam Walton, in 1962).
  • Walmart's stock is up over 26% in the past year due to its low prices attracting customers, especially in the grocery sector.
  • Dethroned L'Oreal's Francoise Bettencourt Meyers as the world's richest woman last fall.
• Julia Koch:
  • Net worth: $61.2 billion.
  • Rank: Second richest woman in the US.
  • Source of wealth: Inherited a 42.5% stake in Koch Industries from her late husband, David Koch.
  • In September, she and her children agreed to buy a minority stake in the New York Giants NFL team.
• Jacqueline Mars:
  • Net worth: $42.2 billion.
  • Source of wealth: Mars, Inc. (candy and pet food giant founded by her grandfather). Brands include M&M's, Snickers, and Pedigree.
• Diane Hendricks:
  • Net worth: $22.3 billion.
  • Rank: Richest self-made woman on the Forbes 400.
  • Source of wealth: ABC Supply (building supplies distributor).
• Judy Faulkner:
  • Net worth: $7.8 billion.
  • Source of wealth: Epic Systems (healthcare software company).
• Peggy Cherng:
  • Net worth: $7.7 billion.
  • Source of wealth: Panda Express (co-founder).

Industry Representation

• Nearly a quarter of the women on the Forbes 400 have made their fortune in the food and beverage industry.
• Food and beverage is the most popular industry for women on the list.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The Forbes 400 list highlights a persistent gender wealth gap, with female representation declining in 2025. While the collective wealth of the women on the list has increased, the overall percentage of women among the wealthiest Americans has decreased. The list showcases a mix of inherited and self-made wealth, with Alice Walton leading due to her Walmart shares and Diane Hendricks representing the most successful self-made woman through her building supplies distribution company. The food and beverage industry is a significant source of wealth for women on the Forbes 400.