16 Richest Self-Made Women in the U.S.: Forbes

The 100 women on the 2022 Forbes list of America’s most successful female entrepreneurs, executives and entertainers have a combined net worth of $111 billion, down 6% from last year following the first-half stock market rout.

The country’s richest self-made women made their fortunes in a variety of industries, including technology, health care, entertainment, fashion and cosmetics. The minimum net worth entrants needed to make this year’s list was $215 million, down from $225 million a year ago.

Thirty-eight women on the new list are worth less than in 2021, but 51 are richer, including seven newcomers and seven who reappeared in the ranks after having previously fallen out.

“This list celebrates women’s success in business despite constant challenges,” Kerry Dolan, assistant managing editor for wealth at Forbes, said in a statement. “Each year new entrepreneurs join the ranks, inspiring us with their stories of how they built their companies.”

Among the new faces on the list is actor Sandra Bullock, 57, whose net worth is listed at $225 million. Maria Sharapova, the 35-year-old former tennis player and investor, returned to the list this year with assets of $220 million.

Forty-two of the self-made women of wealth on the 2022 list live in California, and 10 each reside in New York and Texas.

Forbes compiled this year’s list by valuing individual assets including stakes in public companies using May 13 stock prices. Researchers valued private companies by consulting with outside experts and conservatively comparing them with public companies.

To get onto the list, women had to have largely made their own fortunes in the U.S. or be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Forbes noted that none had inherited wealth, though some had climbed farther and overcome more obstacles to get into the ranks.

Researchers measured how far some had traveled by assigning a self-made score of 6 — standing for hired-hand — to 10 — rags-to-riches entrepreneur. They tried to vet numbers with all women listed but received cooperation only from some. Ages are as of June 14.

See the gallery for the 16 richest self-made women in the U.S.