Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the quiet heiress behind a staggering fortune, owes her immense wealth to her family’s cosmetics empire. The fortune began with her grandfather, passed to her mother, and eventually landed in her hands, making her one of the most powerful figures in the global beauty industry.
A Billionaire Few Know By Name
Despite her wealth, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers isn’t widely recognized outside financial and business circles. Yet her net worth is breathtaking—an estimated $95 billion—placing her firmly as the second-richest woman in the world and the 20th wealthiest person overall, according to Forbes’ billionaire rankings.
At 72 years old, she didn’t have to start a business empire from scratch like many of the billionaires ranked above her. Instead, her fortune was inherited and carefully managed. To illustrate just how vast her wealth is: she could buy an NBA ticket for every American to watch a Warriors vs. Lakers showdown, throw in an official NBA basketball for each person, and still walk away with $33 billion left over.
So why isn’t she a household name? Unlike other billionaires who embrace the spotlight, Françoise lives quietly and deliberately out of public view, which explains why so many people have never heard of her.
Who Is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers?
Born in France, Françoise is the only daughter of Liliane Bettencourt, who inherited the cosmetics empire from her father, Eugène Schueller, the chemist who founded L’Oréal in 1909. That legacy is the foundation of Françoise’s wealth today.
Her personal life is as intriguing as her fortune. She married Jean-Pierre Meyers, a businessman with a remarkable family story. His grandfather, a rabbi, tragically perished in Auschwitz during World War II. Although Françoise was raised Catholic, she later converted to Judaism and, together with her husband, raised their two sons, Jean-Victor and Nicolas, in the Jewish faith—demonstrating her strong commitment to her family’s traditions and heritage.
The Making of a Fortune
The story of Françoise’s wealth is deeply rooted in L’Oréal’s global dominance. When Eugène Schueller died in 1957, his only child Liliane became the heir to the empire and one of its biggest shareholders. Liliane managed the family’s stake for decades until her death in 2017, after which Françoise inherited her mother’s shares.
Today, Françoise controls around 33 percent of L’Oréal, making her the single largest shareholder. Far from being a passive heiress, she serves as a board member and chairs the family’s holding company, exercising real influence over the corporation’s strategy and future direction.
L’Oréal’s continued success—fueled by international growth, innovation in the beauty sector, and a massive online sales presence—has only multiplied her fortune year after year.
Net Worth Today
As of the latest updates, Forbes estimates her net worth at $95.3 billion, while Bloomberg values it slightly higher at $95.9 billion. On Bloomberg’s billionaire index, she ranks 19th globally, while Forbes places her 20th.
Interestingly, Bloomberg excludes its founder Michael Bloomberg from its ranking, while Forbes includes him—valuing his wealth at $109.4 billion and ranking him 17th. This small difference underscores how wealth rankings can fluctuate based on methodology, stock market shifts, or currency exchange rates.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers may not seek fame, but her quiet influence as L’Oréal’s largest shareholder and one of the richest women alive makes her a powerful force—one whose name, though less recognized, is tied to a brand found in nearly every corner of the globe.
