When we imagine the wealthiest people, names such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Bernard Arnault often come to the mind. However, in the shadows and away from attention, one woman has amassed an impressive fortune that is estimated to be $95.8 billion and is the second-richest female in the world–and surprisingly, not many people even know her name.

Who Is She?

She is rarely featured in tabloids, or trending on social media platforms, however her earnings rival those of giants of corporate power. In contrast to celebrities and tech entrepreneurs who are awash in publicity She has kept a low-profile by putting her privacy ahead of fame despite the amount of wealth.

The woman is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers who is the heir to the L’Oreal empire, which is the largest beauty and cosmetics business. The French businesswoman has inherited her wealth from her mother Liliane Bettencourt. She is steadily increasing it thanks to her chairwoman role in the holding company of her family.

The L’Oreal Connection

L’Oreal was founded in 1909, is the leader of the world of beauty through brands like Maybelline, Garnier, Lancome as well as Kiehl’s under the umbrella of. Bettencourt Meyers owns roughly a third of the company with a stake of tens of billions. The beauty industry is booming all over the world, from the latest innovations in skincare in Asia to the latest luxury cosmetics being offered in Europe as well as in the U.S.–her fortune has steadily grown.

By 2024, she’s fortune increased to $95 billion, establishing her position as not just the most wealthy woman on earth sometimes, but always at the top of the list of billionaires around the world.

A Life of Privacy and Philanthropy

In contrast to other billionaires that dominate media attention, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is well-known for her reserved personality. She eschews the glitter that is Hollywood and the glitz that tech entrepreneurs. Instead, she’s devoted most of her time to the cause of philanthropy, writing and even music.

She’s authored books about religion as well as Greek mythology, and she is a regular pianist. By establishing her foundation, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, she helps fund medical research, cultural initiatives, as well as humanitarian issues.

Her position at L’Oreal However, it remains vital. She is still able to protect the heritage of the family and ensure that L’Oreal is able to adapt to changing market trends while retaining the brand’s values.

Why Few Know Her Name

The absurdity that lies in Bettencourt Meyers’ status is unsettling: she’s richer than some of the richest billionaires however, a lot of people would not know her name if they went through her neighborhood. She has remained largely out of the spotlight and resulted in her being a shady figure among billionaires, proving that not all super-rich people want to be in the spotlight.