- Net Worth: $710M
- Revenue Streams: Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Skin, reality TV, social media endorsements
Kylie's most notable venture is Kylie Cosmetics, a beauty brand she launched in 2015 for those who wanted to recreate her oversized pout (without the fillers). And although she landed the Forbes cover labeling her a "self-made billionaire," the magazine later corrected in 2019 that she had not reached B-status. The magazine also faced heat for describing the beauty mogul as "self-made," when she comes from a wealthy, famous family and has been on a TV show since before hitting puberty. As I love to say, the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder to keep her girls working!
The Kylie Lip Kit mania has long died down, and the Kardashian-Jenners are facing criticism that their new Hulu show is too scripted and produced. So what's a KarJenner to do? Only time will tell, but the youngest sibling (and Kris's declared favorite) still has plenty of time to figure it out. She's still under 30!
- Net Worth: $970M
- Revenue Streams: Google stock, Yahoo! compensation, investments
After graduating from Stanford, Marissa Mayer joined Google in 1999, becoming their first female engineer—and eventually their first female executive. Mayer spearheaded the development of Google's search algorithms and user interface, driving the company's massive growth.
In 2012, she took on the challenge of leading Yahoo, further cementing her status as a tech titan. Her strategic moves at both companies netted her significant wealth through stock options and bonuses. Mayer's active leadership and innovative contributions have made her one of the most influential figures in the tech industry.
- Net Worth: $1.2B
- Revenue Streams: Music sales, touring, Maverick Records, Siren Films, MDNA Skin, Hard Candy Fitness, real estate investments
Madonna walked other female artists could run. She has amassed her wealth primarily through her music career, with her extensive discography dating back to the '80s and from numerous successful world tours.
And her influence extends beyond music; Madonna runs her own music label, Maverick Records, and a film studio, Siren Films; she started her own skincare line, MDNA Skin, and co-founded a fitness studio chain called Hard Candy Fitness. What can't Madonna do?
- Net Worth: $1.3B
- Revenue Streams: Spanx, Assets by Sara Blakely, investments
After a frustrating experience with ill-fitting pantyhose, Blakely took scissors to her tights and accidentally cut her way into entrepreneurial history. Spanx, her brainchild, revolutionized the undergarment industry and lifted not just derrieres but the spirits of women everywhere. She cold-called her way into major retailers, used her own derriere as a before-and-after model, and even personally manned the Spanx hotline. She eventually partnered with Target on a line called Assets by Sara Blakely to create a more affordable line.
Sara Blakely turned a simple idea and $5,000 of savings into a billion-dollar shapewear empire, proving that sometimes the best business ideas are hiding in your closet.
- Net Worth: $1.3B
- Revenue Streams: Music sales, streaming, touring (especially the Eras Tour), merchandise, real estate
Taylor Swift joined the Billionaire Club in October 2023, with her groundbreaking Eras Tour Swift selling out stadiums and singlehandedly boosting global economies. She's the ultimate mastermind at everything—smashing records, sweeping awards season, manifesting her dream football boyfriend, and amassing a ridiculous amount of wealth over her short 35 years on this earth. Her father was an investment banker, and she has proudly stated in interviews that he taught her how to make money moves.
Swift's album sales and streaming numbers consistently shatter records, proving her music's incredible reach and staying power. Swift's unparalleled talent and business acumen have not only made her a global superstar but also a formidable force in the music industry. (Some have even said she is the music industry.) As if all that weren't enough (when does the woman sleep?), her strategic brand deals with major names like Apple Music and Capitol One have further cemented her financial prowess, showcasing her savvy ability to secure multiple sources of income.
- Net Worth: $1.3B
- Revenue Streams: Rare Beauty, music sales and streaming, acting, brand partnerships
Selena Gomez is the newest addition to this list of wealthy women, although she's sitting right where her BFF Taylor Swift is! She's been singing and acting since her Disney days as a teen on Wizards of Waverly Place, and although she's still hugely booked and busy filming Only Murders in the Building and Selena + Chef, her beauty brand, Rare Beauty, has catapulted her to the top of yet another industry—right with other women on this list, like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner.
Her various brand deals throughout the years with major beauty brands like Pantene and Louis Vuitton helped her establish her name in the beauty and fashion industries, ultimately setting the stage for her to claim her beauty empire. And she's only 32 years old, so this billionaire is just getting started.
- Net Worth: $1.4B
- Revenue Streams: Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty lingerie line, music sales, streaming, and brand deals with Dior, Gucci, Balmain, and CoverGirl
Bad girl RiRi made good with Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty. She joined the Billionaire Club in 2022, and at that time, she was the youngest addition to the list. Sure, she hasn't given us new music in over a decade, but she's busy changing the beauty industry (and making that bag)!
The only thing more diverse than her music catalog is her shade range—in fact, Fenty Beauty has been so successful because it features so many skin tones. Same with Savage X Fenty; unlike lingerie brands that have been around forever, like Victoria's Secret, Rihanna's line caters to every size.
- Net Worth: $1.7B
- Revenue Streams: KKW Beauty, SKIMS shapewear, reality TV, mobile apps, brand endorsements
From reality TV to beauty mogul, Kim K has proven that keeping up with her is a full-time job for your wallet. Starting with a reality TV show that made oversharing an art form, Kim leveraged her visibility into a multi-faceted empire. She transformed selfies into cold, hard cash with her mobile app, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," and then shaped up her bank account with SKIMS, her hugely successful shapewear line. But the real glow-up came with KKW Beauty, her cosmetics brand that had fans contouring their way to her cash register.
Add in sponsored Instagram posts that cost more than most people's houses, and you've got a recipe for billions that's one part glamour, two parts business savvy, with a dash of controversy for flavor. In Kim's world, everything – from her famous curves to her family drama – is an asset, and she's monetized it all with a skill that would make Wall Street weep. And now she has her sights set on the film & TV industry...! What's next, politics? (She is, in fact, about to complete law school, so I wouldn't rule it out...)
- Net Worth: $2.1B
- Revenue Streams: Facebook (Meta) stock, book sales, speaking engagements
Sheryl Sandberg has leveraged her career at Google and Facebook (now Meta) to become a prominent figure in the tech industry and a champion for women in leadership. Her book, Lean In, has inspired countless women to pursue ambitious careers and break down barriers.
Sandberg's role as COO at Facebook has contributed significantly to the company's growth and success, and she has amassed substantial wealth through her stock options and salary.
- Net Worth: $3B
- Revenue Streams: TV network OWN, production company Harpo, brand deals like Weight Watchers, investments
Oprah Winfrey has built an impressive empire through her multifaceted career. Her iconic talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ran for 25 years, attracting massive audiences and generating substantial revenue. She has leveraged her influence to create Harpo Productions, a media company that produces television shows, films, and books. Winfrey has also launched O, The Oprah Magazine, a popular monthly publication.
Additionally, she has made strategic investments, including a significant stake in Weight Watchers. Her entrepreneurial endeavors, coupled with her strong personal brand and philanthropic work, have cemented her immense wealth and iconic status.
