Lilliane Bettencourt, $44.7 Billion
Shareholder of L'Oreal, Bettencourt was a French heiress, socialite, and businesswoman. At the time of her death, she was the richest woman and fourteenth-richest person in the world.
Christy Walton, $41.7 Billion
Widow of John T. Walton, one of the sons of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Christy Walson is the main heir to her late husband's fortune following his death in a plane crash in 2005. She was the richest woman in the world for several years. Much of her wealth is now in the hands of their son, Lukas Walton.