The heiress achieved another
remarkable feat as she became the first woman to amass a fortune exceeding $100
billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This milestone
coincided with a surge in the shares of L'Oreal SA, the beauty products empire
established by her grandfather, reaching a record high. The stock is on track
for its most successful year since 1998.
Despite this substantial
increase in wealth, Bettencourt Meyers' financial standing remains below that
of her French counterpart Bernard Arnault, the visionary behind the luxury
goods retailer LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. Arnault currently holds the
second position globally with a fortune amounting to $179 billion.
Nevertheless, Bettencourt Meyers surpasses other notable figures such as
India's wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani, philanthropist Ratan Tata, and
industrialist Gautam Adani.
Bettencourt Meyers, at 70, not
only holds the prominent position as the primary stakeholder in L'Oreal, a
global giant valued at £241 billion ($268 billion) but also ranks as the
12th-richest person globally, closely trailing Mexico's Carlos Slim.
Additionally, she serves as the vice-chair of the board of directors. Her sons,
Jean-Victor and Nicolas Meyers, are filmmakers, further contributing to the
family's legacy.
Moreover, Bettencourt Meyers
assumes the role of chair at Tethys, the family's holding company that
encompasses L'Oreal. Jean-Pierre Meyers, her spouse, operates as the CEO of
Tethys. The couple founded Tethys Invest SAS, a subsidiary dedicated to
investments in non-competing markets, in 2016.
The roots of L'Oreal trace back
to 1909 when Bettencourt Meyers' grandfather, Eugene Schueller, a chemist,
established the company to produce and sell a hair color he had invented. The
firm was managed by non-family executives for an extended period.
In contrast to the lavish
social lifestyles often associated with affluence, Meyers embraces a more
solitary existence. Alongside her extensive philanthropic pursuits, which
include writing two books—a five-volume Bible study and a genealogy of the
Greek gods—she is renowned for her daily, hours-long piano sessions. This
unique blend of success, family leadership, and a devotion to personal pursuits
sets Bettencourt Meyers apart in the realm of global wealth and influence.
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