The 15 richest women in the US: does Mackenzie Bezos top the Forbes list?

America's wealthiest women are philanthropic businesswomen and heiresses and, in many cases, related. Forbes just released its annual Forbes 400 list, which highlights the net worth of America's richest individuals. Altogether, the members of this exclusive club are worth US$2.96 trillion. The 15 richest women alone are collectively worth US$262.4 billion. Multiple members of the Mars family and the Walton family are featured on the list, indicating just how dynastic wealth is in the US. Meanwhile, women like MacKenzie Bezos and Julia Koch are making their first appearances at the top of the rankings. What cars do billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg drive? Here are the 15 richest women in the US. They are ranked in ascending order of wealth and their net worth estimates as of October 2, 2019. 15. Nancy Walton Laurie, a Walmart heiress, is worth US$6.7 billion Net worth: US$6.7 billion Source of wealth: Walmart Age: 68 Walton Laurie is the daughter of Bud Walton, who co-founded Walmart with his brother, Sam Walton. After her father's death in 1995, she inherited half of his stake in the company. The other half went to her sister, who is also on this list. 14. Diane Hendricks is the richest self-made woman in America and has a net worth of US$7 billion Net worth: US$7 billion Source of wealth: ABC Supply Age: 72 Diane Hendricks, the richest self-made woman in America, made her fortune by founding wholesale roofing distributor ABC Supply in 1982 with her husband. She has been at the helm of the company since his death in 2007 and used her wealth to revitalise Beloit, Wisconsin, where the company is based. 5 women who could become as rich as Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates 13 (tied). Victoria Mars is one of four sisters who benefited from her family's massive confectionery and pet food company. She has a net worth of US$7.4 billion Net worth: US$7.4 billion Source of wealth: Mars Inc. Age: 62 Mars is the great-granddaughter of Frank Mars, who founded the eponymous confectionery company in 1911. At one point, she was the chairwoman of the board of directors. When her father passed away in 2016, she inherited an 8 per cent stake in the company, as did her three sisters, who are also included on this list. 13 (tied). Valerie Mars also has a net worth of US$7.4 billion Net worth: US$7.4 billion Source of wealth: Mars Inc. Age: 60 One of the four Mars sisters, Valerie started working at Mars Incorporated in 1992 and is the vice-president of corporate development. She is also on the board of directors of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. 13 (tied). Pamela Mars also has a net worth of US$7.4 billion Net worth: US$7.4 billion Source of wealth: Mars Inc. Age: 59 One of the four Mars sisters, Pamela Mars initially joined the family business as an operations supervisor. She ultimately became chairwoman of the board but later stepped down. 13 (tied). Marijke Mars is the fourth Mars sister who has Snickers confectionery bars to thank for a US$7.4 billion net worth Net worth: US$7.4 billion Source of wealth: Mars Inc. Age: 55 Marijke, another Mars sister, also serves on the company's board of directors. The family is very private. How do Donald Trump and his family spend their billions? 9. Ann Walton Kroenke has a net worth of US$7.5 billion Net worth: US$7.5 billion Source of wealth: Walmart Age: 70 Walton Kroenke is the daughter of Bud Walton, who co-founded Walmart with his brother, Sam Walton. After her father's death in 1995, she inherited half of his stake in the company. The other half went to her sister, who is also on this list. 8. Christy Walton married into Walmart’s Walton family and is now worth US$8.5 billion Net worth: US$8.5 billion Source of wealth: Walmart Age: 70 Christy Walton was married to John Walton, the second-oldest child of Walmart founder Sam Walton. John died in a plane crash in 2005, leaving Christy 17 per cent of his wealth. She now uses that fortune as a philanthropist supporting land and sea conservation. 7. Blair Parry-Okeden has a net worth of US$9.6 billion Net worth: US$9.6 billion Source of wealth: Cox Enterprises Age: 69 Even though she is an American citizen, Blair Parry-Okeden primarily lives in Australia. Forbes named her the richest person in Australia in 2016. She inherited a 25 per cent stake in Cox Enterprises when her mother, Barbara Cox Anthony, passed away in 2007. Cox, the automotive and media company, is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Parry-Okeden is known to be private to the point of reclusive. How Mukesh Ambani and his family spend their fortune 6. Abigail Johnson, the CEO of Fidelity Investments, is worth US$14 billion Net worth: US$14 billion Source of wealth: Fidelity Investments Age: 57 Abigail Johnson's grandfather founded Fidelity Investments more than 70 years ago. The company currently has US$2.7 trillion in managed assets. After 26 years of working at the firm, Johnson became the CEO in 2014 and chairwoman of the board in 2016. She has an estimated 24.5 per cent stake in the company. 5. Laurene Powell Jobs and family have a net worth of US$21.3 billion Net worth: US$21.3 billion Source of wealth: Apple and Disney Age: 55 Laurene Powell Jobs and her family inherited the fortune of her husband, Steve Jobs, upon his death in 2011. At one point, she had 5.5 million shares of Apple stock and a 7.3 per cent stake in the Walt Disney Company. She has used those to finance her philanthropic efforts, specifically the creation of the Emerson Collective, an organisation dedicated to social change through education, immigration reform, media and journalism. 4. Jacqueline Mars, another member of the Mars Inc. dynasty, is worth US$29.7 billion Net worth: US$29.7 billion Age: 80 Jacqueline Mars is the granddaughter of the founder of Mars Inc. She is said to own a third of the Snickers and M&M’s confectionery empire. Another third belongs to her brother John, and the rest of the shares are split among her four nieces, who are also featured on this list. She donates to educational, environmental, cultural and health-related causes. How MacKenzie Bezos became the third richest woman in the world 3. MacKenzie Bezos is newly worth US$36.1 billion View this post on Instagram mackenzie bezos #mackenzie #bezos #mackenziebezos A post shared by Mackenzie Bezos (@mackenziebez) on Jan 11, 2019 at 8:19pm PST Net worth: US$36.1 billion Source of wealth: Amazon Age: 49 MacKenzie Bezos and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos finalised their divorce earlier this year after 25 years of marriage. The settlement resulted in MacKenzie retaining 25 per cent of the couples' shares, or 4 per cent of the company. The divorce made her Amazon's second-largest individual shareholder. In April, she signed a pledge to donate half of her fortune to charity. 2. Julia Koch and her children are worth US$41 billion after recently inheriting a stake in Koch industries Net worth: US$41 billion Source of wealth: Koch Industries Age: 57 Julia Koch was married to industrialist and conservative donor David Koch, who died in August. She and her three children inherited a 42 per cent stake in Koch Industries. This is the world’s richest royal: he is worth 80 times more than Queen Elizabeth 1. Alice Walton of the Walmart dynasty has a net worth of US$51.4 billion, which makes her the richest woman in the world Net worth: US$51.4 billion Source of wealth: Walmart Age: 70 Alice Walton is the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. She is not involved with Walmart; she spends her fortune collecting art and breeding horses. Her cousins are also on this list. Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter This article originally appeared on Business Insider

The 15 richest women in the US: does Mackenzie Bezos top the Forbes list?

Collectively worth US$262.4 billion, the 15 richest women in America, according to the Forbes 400 list, include multiple members of the Mars family and the Walton family, indicating just how dynastic wealth is in the US