Entertainment

5 richest female celebrity self-made billionaires of 2023, ranked: from Kim Kardashian and Rihanna to fashion mogul Tory Burch, media magnate Oprah Winfrey and ex-COO of Meta, Sheryl Sandberg

Forbes just released its 2023 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women on June 1.

While Taylor Swift has made headlines for her jaw-dropping net worth at US$740 million, landing her the 34th position on the list, she still has a long way to go to catch up with the billionaire club.

Billionaire Barbadian singer-actress Rihanna arrives for the 2023 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, US, on May 1. Photo: AFP

Questions over how Forbes defines “self-made” regularly arise when the publication releases its rich lists. It reports that it uses a combination of factors, including valuing individual assets like stakes in public companies using stock prices. It consults experts to help establish the value of private companies. Forbes also claims that to be eligible, women have to have “substantially made their own fortunes” in the US and/or be US citizens or permanent residents.

Here are five female stars who made the list, hailing from the fashion industry to tech, music, media and beauty.

How supermodel Heidi Klum looks – and feels – half her age at 501 Jun 2023

5. Tory Burch – US$1 billion

Fashion designer Tory Burch smiles at the end of her runway show during New York Fashion Week on February 13. Photo: AFP

In 2022, the lifestyle brand named after its founder, Tory Burch, sold around US$1.75 billion in clothes, fragrances and shoes. With 370 stores around the world, Burch clearly has an aggressive expansion plan. She started the brand in 2004 in New York City and, according to her website, has a strong focus on empowering women. The Tory Burch Foundation gives access to capital and education to enable women to achieve their dreams, with Burch being the executive chairman and CEO of the brand.

4. Kim Kardashian – US$1.2 billion

Kim Kardashian attends the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California, in November 2022. Photo: TNS

She may be down US$600 million compared to last year, but Kim Kardashian’s net worth still sits at an impressive US$1.2 billion. Forbes reports the value of Kardashian’s shapewear firm Skims saw a decline because of “lower value for publicly traded figures”. She has a 35 per cent stake in Skims, the biggest source of her revenue. The reality star-turned-entrepreneur also has a private equity firm, SKKY Partners and she launched a skin care line SKKN by Kim, boosting her revenue streams.

3. Rihanna – US$1.4 billion

Rihanna is not only a famous performer – she also has a highly successful beauty line, Fenty Beauty. Photo: @fentyxriri/Instagram

Rihanna made history after performing one of the most-watched Super Bowl half-time shows ever, grabbing more than 121 million viewers. At 35 years old, she is the youngest self-made billionaire, with a net worth estimated at around US$1.4 billion.

Fenty Beauty, the make-up line she launched in partnership with LVMH back in 2017, is by far her most valuable asset, with LVMH that reporting Fenty doubled its revenue in 2022.

In March, the Barbadian singer-actress-entrepreneur announced a collaboration between her beauty line and Puma called Fenty x Puma, in a move that Vogue has said makes sense because of the musician’s long-standing relationship with the brand.

2. Sheryl Sandberg – US$1.7 billion

Sheryl Sandberg, then-COO of Facebook, speaks onstage at Vanity Fair’s sixth annual New Establishment Summit at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, in October 2019. Photo: TNS

In 2022, Sandberg stepped down as COO at Facebook, now Meta, to focus on philanthropic work. She still sits on the board of the social media giant and has become known for her outspokenness around women in the workplace. Her bestsellers, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead and Lean in for Graduates have become cult sensations. Before joining Facebook, she was an economist at the World Bank.

1. Oprah Winfrey – US$2.5 billion

Oprah Winfrey is the richest female self-made billionaire in 2023. Photo: @oprahwinfrey6195/Instagram

Forbes ranked media mogul Oprah Winfrey as the richest female self-made billionaire, with her net worth estimated at US$2.5 billion. She was widely reported as adding 352 hectares of land in Maui earlier this year to her already-extensive property portfolio on the Hawaiian island. Her other properties are in California and Wyoming.

EVERY FRIDAYA weekly newsletter dedicated to celebrating women in Asia and sharing stories that matter to all of usBy registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

According to Forbes, Winfrey reinvested profits from her Oprah Winfrey Show into Harpo Productions and other business interests. America’s favourite talk show host is also producing a musical film The Color Purple with Steven Spielberg, set to premiere in North America on December 25, per Variety.

Related Posts

At the Chiefs vs. Panthers game, pregnant Brittany Mahomes supports her husband Patrick by wearing a custom red jacket

Patrick and Brittany are already parents to daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 1. Brittany Mahomes is showing off her growing 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 bump in a custom jacket as she…

In a crazy moment, Jason Kelce karaokes with Appalachian State fans while shotgunning beer

No one was having more fun on Saturday than future father of four Jason Kelce. The retired Eagles center, 37, was seen living it up in Boone, North Carolina…

Steve Harvey and his wife traveled around the world by private jet for a month because they were bored of staying in the mansion

Celebrity comedian, actor, and TV personality Steve Harvey lives lavishly. Many are fascinated by his idea to live on a plane with his wife Marjorie. Their dissatisfaction with…

Boxer Mike Tyson Is Selling His Former Home With Stunning Views

The former home of boxer Mike Tyson is hitting the market, offering stunning views of the Congressional Country Club golf course The former home of retired professional boxer…

AY Comedian and wife live happily in luxury villa amid rumors of emotional conflict

Reflecting on AY Comedian’s multi-million-dollar Lekki estate before it was ravaged by fire Embarking on a nostalgic journey through time, we turn our attention to the magnificent Lekki…

‘Twerk Queen’ Faith Nketsi gets mansion in unique location from husband to comfort her

‘Queen Twerk’ Faith Nketsi’s million-dollar residence, which spans three storeys and is replete with amenities Into Faith Nketsi’s Opulent Home: An Overview of Opulence The well-known “Queen Twerk,”…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *