The biography and net worth of Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal heiress and former richest woman in the world (overtaken by Alice Walton in 2025).
Who is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers? A question that arises spontaneously and finds an easy answer in a ranking: the one compiled by Forbes of the richest people in the world, which crowns her as richest woman in Europe in 2025.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress of the personal care giant L’Oréal, has been listed by the American trade magazine as the second richest woman in the world in 2025, behind the American Alice Walton, who surpassed her in 2024.
But what is her net worth today and, above all, what does the heiress do for a living? Let’s take a look at the biography of Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, also taking a look at how much the second-richest person in France earns behind compatriot Bernard Arnault, head of LVMH.
The net worth of Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the richest woman in Europe
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers remains, as of 2025, one of the most influential and symbolic figures in the world of finance and business, as well as the richest woman in Europe.
Her wealth, closely tied to the L’Oréal empire, currently fluctuates between $81 and $88 billion, according to estimates provided by Forbes and Bloomberg.
While she has lost her top spot in the world’s richest women rankings, overtaken by Alice Walton (Walmart heiress, the only woman in the world to surpass $100 billion), her wealth has grown substantially over the past year. According to some estimates, in fact, her wealth will have increased by almost $18.5 billion by 2025 alone, a sign of the solidity and constant growth of the French group.
The Bettencourt empire is founded on control of 33–34% of L’Oréal, a company founded by his grandfather Eugène Schueller and now the undisputed global leader in the beauty and cosmetics industry. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2024, L’Oréal recorded revenues exceeding €43 billion, strengthening its position thanks to targeted expansion strategies, such as the acquisition of the US brand "Color Wow." From Garnier to Maybelline, from Lancôme to Kiehl’s, the French giant’s brands are now global icons.
It is therefore clear that the success of Bettencourt Meyers is not only the result of an extraordinary legacy, but also of the ability to grow an industrial giant that continues to dictate the rules in a highly competitive sector.
Who is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and what does she do today?
While Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’s net worth continues to inspire amazement (despite her no longer being the world’s richest woman), her personal and professional life tells an equally fascinating story. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1953, she is the only child of Liliane Bettencourt, a symbol of French wealth for decades, and André Bettencourt, a politician and industrialist. The granddaughter of L’Oréal founder Eugène Schueller, Françoise joined the company’s board of directors in 1997, playing an increasingly central role until she became vice president. In 2025, she announced her departure from the board, making way for a generational change: her son, Jean-Victor Meyers, will take over as vice chairman, ensuring the continuity of the family’s presence within the group.
Despite her immense fortune and central role as the largest shareholder of the L’Oréal giant, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers has always distinguished herself by a modest and reserved lifestyle, away from the spotlight that often accompanies figures of equal wealth—or in the same industry. Married to Jean-Pierre Meyers, she has two sons—Jean-Victor and Nicolas—and lives in Paris.
In addition to her corporate work, she heads the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, which funds scientific, social, and artistic research projects: a philanthropic initiative that, in some ways, puts her in common with her "rival" (in terms of wealth) Alice Walton, who is also involved in the arts and social work. In short, she’s wealthy, but discreetly so, and without neglecting activities that go beyond purely financial and profit-making.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è e quanto guadagna Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, la donna più ricca d’Europa?
