Here are 10 of the most successful women entrepreneurs.

Women typically need to break glass ceilings and go against other people’s expectations to grow businesses. 

And if you’re looking for the best ones to inspire you, you’re in the right place. 

Read on to learn more about how these top entrepreneurs got started. 

Top 10 successful women entrepreneurs in the world 

Today, an impressive one-third of businesses worldwide are owned by women. 

In the US alone, there are 13 million women-owned businesses – nearly half of all businesses!

So below, in no particular order, I’ve compiled a list of some most successful self-made women entrepreneurs and business leaders in the world based on their net worth and founder story. 

Now:

While all of these women are worth hundreds of millions or billions, you can start a successful business without a billion-dollar idea.

That’s what I’ve done with an 8-figure online business that’s extremely flexible and profitable. 

If you’re looking to quit your 9-5 and start a business, then the best place to start is to sell your existing knowledge. I talk more about it in this step-by-step guide on how to build a coaching business.

Next, let’s take a look at the most successful women entrepreneurs. 

Note: All net worths in this list are accurate as of January 2024.

Sara Blakely 

Industry: Fashion

Sara Blakely founded Spanx, a shapewear brand she started from her apartment with just $5,000 in 2000. She developed prototypes, tested designs, pitched the brand to department stores, and even filed for patents on her own.

She was rejected dozens of times before Neiman Marcus took a chance on the product. Today, Spanx, which has grown to include clothing, intimates, swimwear, and leisurewear, is sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. 

In total, the company earns an estimated $400 million every year. It is still privately held, though Sara sold a majority stake to Blackstone in a deal that valued the company at $1.2 billion in 2021.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Sara is also a philanthropist. In addition to being the first self-made female billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, she established the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation in 2006. It donates millions to charities that serve women and children.

In 2012, she became the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire at 41, according to Forbes. Today, she has a net worth of about $1.1 billion.

Oprah

Industry: Media, Philanthropy

Oprah Winfrey is a talk show host, the CEO of OWN, the founder of Harpo Productions and The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, investor, and more. 

In 1986, she made history as the first Black woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show, called “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” 

She then launched Harpo Productions, a multimedia empire that includes TV, magazines, and film, in 1986. It’s the brand behind television programming like “Dr. Phil,” magazines such as O Magazine, and movies like The Color Purple. 

In addition, she co-founded Oxygen Media and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, where she is still CEO. In 2015, she purchased an equity stake in Weight Watchers International.

She is heavily involved in philanthropy, having founded the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation in 1987 to support women worldwide.

Today, Oprah has a net worth of $2.8 billion.

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Industry: Technology

Whitney Wolfe Herd co-founded Bumble, Inc. in 2014. She is best known for creating Bumble, a female-first dating app that revolutionized online dating, though she also co-founded Tinder in 2012.

Since 2014, Whitney has expanded Bumble, Inc. to include the online dating app Badoo. She has also taken Bumble itself beyond dating to include options for friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). 

Today, Bumble and Badoo operate in 150 countries worldwide, with more than 3 million paying users.

When Whitney took Bumble, Inc. public in 2021, she became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world. She stepped down as CEO to become Chair of Bumble in January 2024. 

Whitney’s net worth is $510 million.

Melanie Perkins

Industry: Design

Melanie Perkins is an Australian entrepreneur known for her work as co-founder and CEO of Canva, an online graphic design platform.

In 2007, Melanie started Fusion Books, a company that helped students create yearbooks. She realized the need for an accessible, user-friendly design tool and began Canva in 2013. 

Using a drag-and-drop interface, the platform allows those without graphic design skills to create high-quality visual content. 

Under Melanie’s leadership, it became one of the fastest-growing software ever. Canva hit ten million users in just five years and became a “Unicorn” – a startup with more than $1 billion in valuation and sales. Today, it has over 100 million users in 190 countries.

Melanie’s net worth is $3.6 billion.

Tory Burch

Industry: Fashion

Tory Burch is the founder and CEO of the premium lifestyle brand Tory Burch.

She founded the brand in 2004, focusing first on footwear and clothing often described as “preppy bohemian.” Since then, she has expanded the company to include accessories, handbags, eyewear, fragrances, and home decor.

In addition to 370 stores in more than 60 countries, the company sells its products online, in department stores, and in specialty retailers. 

Tory also founded the Tory Burch Foundation in 2009, which provides education, capital, and mentorship to women entrepreneurs across the US.

She has won several awards for her work and has landed on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women and Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.

Her net worth currently stands at $1.2 billion.

Rihanna

Industry: Cosmetics, Fashion

In addition to being a Grammy Award-winning musician, Rihanna is the founder of Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, and Savage X Fenty.

Each brand is known for its inclusivity.

When she launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, the line offered 40 shades of foundation. Today, it has 50 and addresses the lack of representation for darker skin tones.

Fenty Skin also focuses on making great skincare routines achievable for skins of all types, tones, and backgrounds.

Likewise, Savage X Fenty is a body-positive, inclusive lingerie, sleepwear, and loungewear brand. It offers sizes ranging from XS to 3X, and its marketing campaigns feature models of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to better represent its audience.

In addition to her brands, Rihanna has collaborated with various companies for product endorsements, from sneakers to skincare.

Originally from Barbados, Rihanna ranked number 20 on Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. She has a net worth of $1.4 billion.

Indra Nooyi

Industry: Food and Beverage

Indra Nooyi is the former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. She made history by becoming the first woman to head a Fortune 500 company and was the first Indian-born CEO of a major global corporation.

She joined PepsiCo in 1994 as a Senior Vice President and worked her way up to President & CFO before becoming Chairman and CEO in 2006. 

Under her leadership, PepsiCo acquired several major brands, including Tropicana, Quaker Oats, and Gatorade. It also increased profitability, expanded into emerging markets, developed healthier products, and improved sustainability efforts.

Indra retired from PepsiCo in 2018 but serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards, including Amazon, Philips, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

She has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World (2007, 2009) and one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes (2017).

Today, her net worth stands at $350 million.

Reese Witherspoon

Industry: Media

Though she’s become a household name as an actress, Reese Witherspoon also owns several successful businesses.

Her first venture, Draper James, was founded in 2015 as a Southern-inspired lifestyle brand that includes clothing, accessories, home decor, and cookbooks. 

In 2016, Reese founded a production and media company called Hello Sunshine, which focuses on female-driven stories. It has produced shows and films such as Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Where the Crawdads Sing.

Candle Media acquired the company for $900 million in 2021, though Reese still oversees day-to-day operations.

She’s also involved in philanthropy. 

In 2017, she co-founded Time’s Up Now, a movement and legal defense that fights sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Draper James also donates a portion of profits to charities that support women and children.

Reese has a net worth of $440 million.

Beyoncé 

Industry: Fashion, Beauty, Music

Since finding fame as part of Destiny’s Child in the 1990s, Beyoncé has won 28 Grammys and become a wildly successful entrepreneur with ventures in fashion, beauty, and music.

In 2010, she founded a media company called Parkwood Entertainment and took total ownership and creative control of her music, films, touring, and other ventures. She was one of the first high-profile artists to do so and is credited with paving the way for others to seek autonomy. 

Beyoncé went on to launch her athleisure line, Ivy Park, with Adidas in 2016. The line celebrates inclusivity and body positivity and features functional pieces like sneakers, leggings, and hoodies for all shapes and sizes. 

In 2015, Beyoncé’s husband, rapper Jay-Z, launched the music streaming platform TIDAL. Along with 14 other high-profile musicians, Beyoncé became part-owner of the platform and used it to release exclusive content, including music and visuals, for paying fans. 

In addition to these businesses, she has also partnered with major brands such as Balmain, L’Oréal, and PepsiCo. 

Her net worth is $800 million.

Anne Wojcicki

Industry: Science

Anne Wojcicki is the co-founder of 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company.

The company, founded in 2006, allows customers to explore their ancestry, health predispositions, and potential health risks through just one saliva sample. They can view their results online and connect with others who share the same DNA.

On a larger scale, it conducts genetic research studies, uncovers genetic factors related to health conditions, and offers a greater understanding of genetics in health and wellness.

As of 2024, the company has over 14 million genotyped customers.

Under Anne’s leadership, 23andMe has navigated regulatory challenges, secured FDA approval for specific health-related tests, and enhanced the potential of personalized medicine. When she took the company public in 2021, it was valued at more than $3.5 billion.

In addition to 23andMe, she founded the Anne Wojcicki Foundation, which pledges more than $20 million each year to causes like university research, healthcare, and youth services.

Anne also co-founded the Breakthrough Prize alongside well-known entrepreneurs such as Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg. Called the “Oscars of Science,” it awards $3 million to those making breakthroughs in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics.

Anne’s net worth currently stands at $270 million.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you want to learn about more successful women entrepreneurs, keep reading!

Other notable female entrepreneurs 

Here are a few more female entrepreneurs:

• Zhang Xin, co-founder of SOHO China, a prominent Chinese real estate developer (worth $1.2B)
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon Limited, the second Indian company to reach $1 billion on its first trading day (worth $2.6B)
• Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder of ActOne Group, the first Black female-led company to earn more than $1 billion annually (worth $600M)
• Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook COO, executive, and author (worth $1.9B)
• Ariana Huffington, founder of Thrive Global and The Huffington Post, which she sold for $315 million in 2011

But who was the first woman to grow a highly successful business?

That’s what we’ll look at next.  

Who was the first successful female entrepreneur?

Madam C.J. Walker was a Black female entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the first female self-made millionaire in America.

She developed and marketed a line of homemade beauty and hair care products designed specifically for Black women. The most popular was Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.

She employed saleswomen called “beauty culturalists” when job opportunities for Black women were limited. They received job training and business opportunities, a pathway to financial independence.

Read on to discover the first female CEO.

Who was the first major female CEO? 

In 1963, Katharine Graham became president of the Washington Post Company publisher from 1969 to 1979.

During her time, the Post covered the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal to become one of the most powerful newspapers in America.

And when Katharine became CEO in 1972, making her the first-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. 

She wasn’t the last. 

Andrea Jung became the first Asian American CEO of a major company (Avon, 1999).

Ursula Burns became the first Black female CEO of a major company (Xerox, 2009).

And Geisha Williams was the first Latina CEO of a Fortune 500 company (PG&E, 2017).

Next steps

There you have it! A look at some of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the world.

Starting an online business is one of the best ways to find entrepreneurial success.

You don’t even need a million-dollar idea, just a profitable one.

Trust me – I launched my own six-figure online business, and so have many of my clients. 

I’ll show you exactly how I did it in my free coaching blueprint:

Read more:

What is an Entrepreneur?

How to Become an Entrepreneur 

How to Start an Online Business