The widow of John Walton inherited her wealth after he died in an airplane accident in 2005. Repeating her 2010 title as world's richest woman, she got an extra bump in her fortune because of her late husband's early investment in First Solar; shares up nearly 500% since 2006 initial public offering. But the bulk still comes from her holdings in Wal-Mart, the retailer founded by her father-in-law Sam Walton and his brother James in 1962. The philanthropist supports museums, education and organic gardening.
Second wife, and now widow, of billionaire Andronico Luksic, who died of cancer in 2005. Family controls Antofagasta, one of the world's largest copper miners. Also holds shares in Quinenco, a consumer packaging and beverage maker, and Plava Laguna, a chain of Croatian beach resorts. Son Jean Paul serves as chairman of Antofagasta. Antofagasta shares have more than doubled in the past 12 months, largely accounting for the Fontbona family's fortune increasing by $8 billion since 2010's ranking.
5. Susanne Klatten, 48 year
$14.6 billion
Field :: BMW, pharmaceuticals, Germany
Inherited stake in automaker BMW from late father Herbert Quandt, who rescued it from bankruptcy in the early 1960s. A trained economist with an M.B.A., Klatten also inherited a 50% stake in chemical manufacturer Altana and has since increased her control of the company to 100% and delisted the firm. Also holds stakes in wind power outfit Nordex AG, carbon and graphite producer SGL, and Geohumus, a company that is developing a water storing granulate to be used in agriculture. In 2009 Klatten won a civil case against ex-lover Helg Sgarbi, who tried to blackmail her for millions in a salacious scandal. Sgarbi is currently in jail. Klatten's personal fortune rose $3.5 billion in the past year.
6. Brigit Rausing, 87 year, & Family
$14 billion
Field :: Packaging, Sweden
After death of her husband Gad Rausing in 2000, inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval along with her three children. In 1944 her father-in-law founded the company, which revolutionized the packaging of liquids such as juices and milk. Today the company employs 31,000 people in 165 countries. All of her children sit on Tetra Laval's board. Son Jorn is head of mergers and acquisitions. Son Finn is chairman of the board of the Swedish R.R. Institute of Applied Economics, and daughter Kirsten is a horse breeder in the U.K. Birgit lives quietly in Switzerland.
7. Anne Cox Chambers, 91 year
$13.4 billion
Field :: Cox Enterprises, U.S.
Daughter of Cox Enterprises founder James M. Cox (d. 1957), who finished high school at 17 and worked as a schoolteacher and newspaper reporter before shelling out $26,000 for the
Dayton Evening News in 1898. James Sr. later moved into politics. Today Cox Enterprises includes Cox Communications cable company, 17 daily newspapers, 15 TV stations, 86 radio stations, Manheim Auctions (cars) and AutoTrader.com. Fortune up $3 billion in past year.
8. Savitri Jindal, 61 year
$13.2 billion
Steel, India
Chairs $12 billion (revenues) O.P. Jindal Group, a steel and power conglomerate founded by her late husband Om Prakash Jindal, who died in a helicopter crash in 2005. In practice, however, it is her four sons--Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan and Naveen--who run the businesses. Family's biggest asset is Jindal Steel & Power, run by youngest son Naveen, a member of parliament.
9. Abigail Johnson, 49 year
$11.3 billion
Field :: Fidelity, U.S.
With father controls Fidelity Investments, America's largest mutual fund company. Firm also boasts large brokerage business and insurance outfit. Father Ned joined his father's company as analyst 1957, president 15 years later. Abby ran her first diversified fund 1993. Ned trimmed ownership 1995, Abby inherited 24% stake; rumored to have sold some shares back to family members years later. Ownership a mystery: Family owns 49% of Fidelity, but size of individual stakes unknown. Abby runs personal and workplace investing division; believed by some to be father's chosen successor.
10. Jacqueline Mars, 71 year
$10 billion
Field :: Candy, pet food, U.S.
Cash-strapped consumers still have appetite for the Mars family's nearly recession-proof products: chocolate (Snickers, M&Ms), pet food (Pedigree). Created world's largest confectionery company by acquiring gum maker Wrigley in 2008 for $23 billion. Combined sales now exceed $30 billion. Grandfather Frank Mars began making chocolates 1911 in his kitchen in Tacoma, Wash. Father, Forrest Sr., invented M&Ms, and introduced malt-flavored nougat, the foundation of famous candy bar line that includes Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers. Third generation inherited company when dad died in 1999.
11. Johanna Quandt, 84 year
$9.8 billion
Field :: BMW, Germany
Former secretary and third wife of the late Herbert Quandt, German executive who rescued auto maker BMW from bankruptcy. Retired from BMW's supervisory board in 1997; still owns 17% of the $72 billion (sales) auto maker. Her children, Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt, have large stakes as well and are also billionaires. Lives quietly in spa town of Bad Homburg near Frankfurt. In September 2010 was recognized by the German government for her cultural and social endeavors in support of journalism and learning.
12. Georgina Rinehart, 57 year
$9 billion
Field :: Mining, Australia
High iron ore prices and rising exports to China more than quadrupled her fortune in one year, but it was domestic issues that put her in the headlines. A new "super-tax" proposed by the Australian Government on iron ore and coal triggered a sharp reaction by the normally reclusive Rinehart who, in one cameo performance, mounted a flatbed truck with fellow iron ore billionaire, Andrew Forrest, to chant anti-tax slogans. That performance was followed by a surprise purchase of a 10% stake in a television network, perhaps to further her crusade against the mining tax. Rinehart is expanding her fortune via direct interests in mining, initially iron ore, but with coal likely to come if a trial mine performs as expected.
13. Charlene de Carvalho - Heineken, 56 year
$7.5 billion
Field :: Heineken, Netherlands
Inherited 25% stake in Dutch brewer Heineken nine years ago from her late father, Freddy Heineken. Company has more than 170 premium brands in more than 65 countries. Mother of five, studied law at the University of Leiden. Enjoys photography, music and architecture. She is also a member of St. Moritz's elite Corviglia Ski Club. A delegate member of Heineken's board of directors; her husband, investment banker Michel de Carvalho, sits on the supervisory board.
14. Blair Parry - Okeden, 60 year
$6.7 billion
Field :: Cox Enterprises, U.S.
Granddaughter of Cox Enterprises founder James M. Cox (d. 1957), Parry-Okeden inherited 25% stake in business after mother, Barbara Cox Anthony, passed away in 2007. Not active in family business, Parry-Okeden lives in near anonymity in Australia, making her one of that country's richest residents. Brother Jim, who also got a 25% stake, is chairman of the nearly $15 billion (revenues) group.
15. Antonia Johnson, 67 year
$6.5 billion
Field :: Diversified, Sweden
One of Sweden's richest women. In 1982 succeeded her father as head of the Axel Johnson Group, a diversified trading company founded by her great-grandfather in 1873. The privately held $6.3 billion (sales) group has interests in everything from energy to telecom to real estate. Axfood AB, in which it holds a 46% share, is one of the largest food operations in Scandinavia. Attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Mass., as an exchange student in the early 1960s. Avid horsewoman and member of numerous Swedish charities, including the World Childhood Foundation.
16. Dorothea Steinbruch & family
$5.8 billion
Field :: Steel, Brazil
Widow and her children control one of Brazil's largest steelmakers, Companhia Siderugica Nacional (CSN). She is not involved in running the business; son Benjamin serves as chairman and chief executive of CSN; company made an unsuccessful bid for Cimpor, Portugal's largest cement manufacturer, last year. Family also owns Banco Fibra; son Ricardo is chairman of the board.
17. Wu Yajun, 47 year, & family
$5.5 billion
Field :: Real Estate, China
The richest self-made woman in the world is a former journalist. Wu graduated from the Department of Navigation Engineering of the Northwestern Polytechnical University in 1984, and from 1988 to 1993 worked as a journalist and editor with the China Shirong News Agency. Shares in Wu's Hong Kong-listed real estate developer Longfor Properties rose by a quarter from a year earlier, and contract sales for 2010 soared 81% from a year earlier to $5 billion. From its roots in Chongqing in central China, Longfor has been expanding in relatively profitable markets in first-tier cites. Longfor listed its shares in Hong Kong Nov. 2009. Wu shares her fortune with her husband, who also holds a stake in the company.
18. Shari Arison, 53 year
$5.1 billion
Field :: Carnival Cruises, Israel
Israel's richest woman inherited two of the country's largest companies: $75 billion (assets) Bank Hapoalim and infrastructure behemoth Housing & Construction. Stake in Carnival Cruise increased 10% in value over last 12 months. Launched Miya, a $100 million venture dedicated to reducing leaks in underground water pipes. Eccentric heiress published book outlining philosophy of connecting business with spirituality. Created controversy in Israel for speaking of "visions" and premonitions of global crisis and Hurricane Katrina.
19. Pauline MacMillan, 77 year
$4.7 billion
Field :: Cargill, U.S.
Heiress is one of seven relatives on Forbes 400 thanks to vast wealth created by Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S. in which the family owns an 88% stake. Cargill makes money in all areas of food production from stable to table: animal feed, meat, crops; also runs large commodity trading and risk management operations, one of its hardest hit divisions. Fiscal 2010 sales were down 6% to $107.9 billion; net earnings down 22% to $2.6 billion. William Cargill, son of Scottish sea captain, founded Iowa grain storage business after Civil War. No family member has run the company since Whitney MacMillan stepped down as chief executive in 1995.
20. Marion MacMillan Pictet, 78 year
$4.7 billion
Cargill, U.S.
Heiress is one of seven billionaire relatives with a combined net worth of $26 billion thanks to vast wealth created by Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S. The family owns an 88% stake in the company whose 2010 sales were $107.9 billion. Cargill announced in January that it would spin-off its 64%, $24.3 billion stake in Plymouth-based fertilizer maker Mosaic--a move that is said to free up cash and enabling it to remain a private company. William Cargill, son of Scottish sea captain, founded Iowa grain storage business after Civil War. Will's son-in-law John MacMillan took control 1909. No family member has run the company since Whitney MacMillan stepped down as chief executive in 1995.
