In a historic milestone, 70-year-old Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L’Oreal beauty empire, has ascended to the ranks of the world’s richest individuals. Her fortune soared past the $100 billion mark on Thursday, briefly placing her among the elite male billionaires on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Although her net worth dipped to $99.9 billion by the close of trade, she now stands shoulder to shoulder with titans like Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.
A Family Legacy and L’Oreal Empire
Bettencourt Meyers and her family command a majority stake of 35% in the renowned luxury brand L’Oréal, founded by her grandfather in 1909. Since his passing, the family has diligently expanded the brand, transforming it into a beauty products empire valued at over $240 billion.
Inheritance and Rocky Relationships
Born on July 10, 1953, Bettencourt Meyers inherited a substantial fortune and a plethora of assets, including global mansions, following her mother Liliane Bettencourt’s death in 2017. The inheritance concluded a prolonged family feud over wealth. Notably, Bettencourt Meyers had a tumultuous relationship with her mother, marked by publicized butler’s recordings that triggered investigations into political affairs.
Author, Philanthropist, and Businesswoman
Beyond her role in the L’Oreal empire, Bettencourt Meyers is a distinguished author with works on Greek mythology and Jewish-Christian relationships. She actively engages in philanthropy, channeling funds into science and social development. Serving as the vice-chair of the L’Oreal board, which oversees subsidiaries like Maybelline and Kiehl’s, she shares the business realm with her director sons, Jean-Victor Meyers and Nicolas Meyers.
The Lifestyle of a Reclusive Billionaire
Described as a reclusive figure, Bettencourt Meyers dedicates hours each day to playing the piano. Her extensive wealth is manifested in million-dollar mansions scattered across the globe, alongside a remarkable collection of high-end automobiles, including a Bentley Continental GT, Jaguar F-Type, Ferrari, and Porsche 911 Cabriolet. Beyond her opulent lifestyle, her focus on literature, philanthropy, and family highlights the multifaceted nature of one of the world’s wealthiest women.
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