Starting a business for men is hard, but for women, it’s even harder. This article will take you through the journey of the top 10 most famous and influential female entrepreneurs who have broken all societal barriers. It also explores their age, industry, and net worth.
Earlier, running a business was considered a man’s job. But now, there is no sector where women have not set their feet. Even though it is still as difficult as moving mountains for women to mark their presence in the male-dominated sector, there is encouraging progress. In this article, we celebrate the wins of some inspiring women who have become successful entrepreneurs in today’s competitive society.
Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs
There are many inspirational women in the world. While many have played pivotal roles in the advancement of various industries, some of the top 10 female entrepreneurs are listed below.
1. Oprah Winfrey
The beloved American idol, Oprah, is not only a renowned media personality but also a successful businesswoman. She has received immense love and praise from people worldwide. Meanwhile, she is also the founder and CEO of Harpo Productions (Harpo Studios), a production company. Interestingly, “Harpo” is just “Oprah” spelled backward. Forbes named Oprah the world’s most powerful celebrity in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2013. Media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly and The Hollywood Reporter have also acknowledged Winfrey’s influence.
| Name | Oprah Winfrey |
| Age | 71 years |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Net worth | $3.2 Billion |
2. Sara Blakely
The woman who contributed to the increase in many women’s confidence, Blakely, is an American entrepreneur. She earned her spot on the cover of Forbes magazine for being the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire in 2012. Her brand, Spanx, creates body-slimming women’s undergarments, and now even men’s. Blakely founded the company in 2000, and it instantly rose to success after Oprah Winfrey called it one of her “Favorite Things.” As a result, Spanx made sales of millions of dollars. Moreover, Forbes also listed Blakely as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world in 2014.
| Name | Sara Blakely |
| Age | 54 years |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Net worth | $1.3 Billion |
3. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Famous for having won the most Grammy Awards in history with 32 wins, Beyoncé is also an inspiring businesswoman. She founded her company, Parkwood Entertainment, in 2010. As a role model for all black women around the globe, Beyoncé is an ambassador of female independence at its best. Apart from Parkwood Entertainment, which she named after a street she grew up on, she also co-introduced House of Deréon in 2006 with her mother. Not only this, but she also owns, manages, and operates an athletic clothing brand, Ivy Park.
| Name | Beyoncé |
| Age | 44 years |
| Industry | Fashion and Entertainment |
| Net worth | $800 Million |
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4. Arianna Huffington
This Greek American author is the woman behind The Huffington Post. She became a liberal and created a liberal online site, which offers news and commentary. Arianna got married to Republican politician Michael Huffington in 1986 and divorced him 11 years later. Talking about her business, The Huffington Post was acquired by AOL in 2011, and Time Magazine named her among the world’s 100 most influential personalities. Surprisingly, she left her brainchild brand to embark on a new journey. She launched Thrive Global, a health and wellness startup, in 2016.
| Name | Arianna Huffington |
| Age | 75 years |
| Industry | Journalism and Technology |
| Net worth | $100 Million |
5. Rihanna
The nine-time Grammy award-winning singer is not just one of the century’s best artists but also a famous female entrepreneur. There are several factors contributing to this billionaire’s success. Apart from her singing and acting career, she has also remained quite active in her business ventures. Rihanna launched her first fragrance, Reb’l Fleur, in 2011, and it achieved immense financial success. Rebelle, Nude, and Rogue were the names of her subsequent fragrances. She also launched an LA-based beauty and stylist agency named Fr8me in 2015. Two years later, in 2017, she launched a beauty brand, called Fenty Beauty, and a fashion brand called Fenty in 2019.
| Name | Rihanna |
| Age | 37 years |
| Industry | Beauty and Fashion |
| Net worth | $1.4 Billion |
6. Alice Walton
Named among the richest and top 10 female entrepreneurs, Walton is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The main factor contributing to her wealth is that she is the heiress of Walmart. In the initial stages of her career, Alice worked as an equity analyst and money manager for First Commerce Corporation. After several similar jobs, she founded Llama Company in 1998 and serves as the president, chairwoman, and CEO of the investment bank. Also, she is a great philanthropist and art lover. Alice earned her name on Time Magazine’s list of most influential people in the world in 2012. Her other recognitions include the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art Medal, the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame induction, and the J. Paul Getty Medal.
| Name | Alice Walton |
| Age | 76 years |
| Industry | Retail |
| Net worth | $109.8 Billion |
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7. Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson is the granddaughter of the late Edward C. Johnson II, the founder of Fidelity Investments. This billionaire has constantly been ranked among the wealthiest women entrepreneurs. For the past many years, she has held the position of president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Fidelity Investments. She has been listed on many lists, such as “The Richest Person In America’s 50 Largest Cities,” “Powerful Women,” and The Richest Person. She has made significant contributions to the company, considering she introduced cryptocurrency at Fidelity. Over time, it has become feasible for investors to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum.
| Name | Abigail Johnson |
| Age | 63 years |
| Industry | Finance |
| Net worth | $370 million |
8. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
The founder and Executive Chairperson of the Indian biopharmaceutical company, Biocon Limited, Mazumdar, is an inspiration. She is a billionaire woman who has been awarded numerous times for her contributions to the advancement of science and chemistry. Once termed among the most powerful women in the world, Mazumdar clearly did not expect that much. She met the Irish entrepreneur, the founder of Biocon Biochemicals Limited, and partnered with him to establish an Indian subsidiary.
| Name | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw |
| Age | 72 years |
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Net worth | $4.15 million |
9. Tory Burch
Burch is a fashion designer and a businesswoman. With her hard work and dedication, she created a multi-million dollar lifestyle brand in a short period of time. Currently, she serves as the Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of her own brand, Tory Burch LLC. The Pennsylvania-born businesswoman started her career as a fashion designer. Her ex-husband, billionaire J. Christopher Burch, gave her a few million. She started with nothing but her dedication and skills. In 2005, Burch’s business skyrocketed after Oprah Winfrey praised her line on The Oprah Winfrey Show and called Burch “the next big thing in fashion.”
| Name | Tory Burch |
| Age | 59 years |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Net worth | $1 billion |
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10. Katrina Lake
Founder of Stitch Fix, Katrina Lake, is a 41-year-old woman who has gained praise worldwide. She founded the online personal styling service in 2011 while studying at Harvard Business School. Her fresh perspective, aligned with the usage of data and algorithms, provided personalized styling options for the customers. She also served as the interim CEO of the fashion-based subscription service. Meanwhile, Lake also earned the title of the youngest woman to take a company public.
| Name | Katrina Lake |
| Age | 42 years |
| Industry | Technology |
| Net worth | $44.8 Million |
Final words
In essence, a person needs to be unique to stand out from the competition. In a patriarchal society like ours, it becomes even more difficult for women to achieve such professional milestones. Nonetheless, the top 10 female Entrepreneurs mentioned in our list have proved that every obstacle can be overcome with dedication and perfect ideation.
