Meet America's Richest Self-Made Women. Plus: J.K. Rowling Is A Billionaire Again
Forbes
This week marked the release of our annual list of America's Richest Self-Made Women, Forbes' definitive accounting of the country's most successful female entrepreneurs, executives and entertainers as determined by net worth.
This is our 10th anniversary of producing this list, and a lot has changed since it debuted in 2015: There are 38 billionaires this year, with fortunes originating in everything from cars to cosmetics to Chardonnay. That's more than double the 18 we found in 2015.
As my colleague (and Forbes assistant managing editor) Kerry Dolan and I discussed in a recorded conversation about the list, tracking the net worths of America's female entrepreneurs is important because money is power. The women on this list are exerting their power by building companies providing essential goods and services; donating their wealth to political causes; investing in under-appreciated assets (like women's sports, which you can read more about below).
You can catch all the coverage of America's richest self made women through this link here—and I do hope you spend some time reading and appreciating the myriad ways women are shaping American consumption and culture!
Cheers!
Maggie
Billionaire Michele Kang has an ambitious goal: In the not-too-distant future, she believes, women's soccer teams will be trading for $1 billion or more—and she's willing to spend whatever it takes to make that happen. Between purchasing her three clubs (the NWSL's Washington Spirit, France's Première Ligue OL Lyonnes and the London City Lionesses, which were recently promoted to England's Women's Super League), seeding a handful of women-focused sports startups and donating $30 million to the U.S. Soccer federation, Kang entered the sports world with an ante of at least $200 million. And she's not done.
Speaking of rich women in sports, this week Forbes also released its ranking of America's richest female sports team owners, a list of 11 billionaires who control major pro franchises and are collectively worth $85 billion. At the top? The Mavericks' Miriam Adelson, worth a cool $29 billion.
Yet for all the momentum around women in sports, the French Open is coming under fire for (once again) failing to schedule a women's match in the (better-viewed) evening sessions. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has said 'it's complicated' to schedule both women and men's play at night… but stars like Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff are also raising their voices about the issue.
The Harry Potter books transformed J.K. Rowling from a single mother on welfare to an author with a ten-figure fortune—but her massive charity initiatives dropped her from the ranks of billionaires. Now, thanks to new Potterverse books, movies, a play, and several theme parks—and in spite of her divisive social-media presence—Rowling is magically back in the three-comma club.
Following Taylor Swift's blockbuster announcement Friday that she has bought back the rights to her first six albums, streams of her entire catalog surged as much as 400% and some titles even reentered the Billboard 200.
Kristi Noem made headlines last month when a thief snatched her purse inside a Washington, D.C., restaurant and made off with $3,000 in cash, prompting a question: Exactly how much money does the homeland security secretary have? About $5 million, Forbes estimates, after analyzing property records and financial filings.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its proposed budget for the National Institutes of Health, and that budget is facing cuts of up to 40% compared to 2025—a year that has already seen the slashing of thousands of grants used for medical research. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath for a conversation about exactly what these continued cuts could mean for American public health.
1. Recognize your own red flags. We talk about 'red flags' in business partners and romantic partners, but can you identify your own patterns and flaws? The idea is not to become your biggest critic, but instead, start a process of reflection that, while uncomfortable, can improve how you handle conflict and set boundaries—personally and professionally.
2. Know when to take the first offer. Serial entrepreneur (and one of America's richest self-made women) Emma Grede recently sat down with ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath to discuss her career, why she leans into fear, and how she identifies when it's time to move from one project or company to the next. 'I think that sometimes your first offer is the best offer; you think that you need to wait and wait and wait for something better to come and it doesn't always come,' Grede said.
3. Take a microbreak. Microbreaks are short, intentional pauses taken throughout the workday to help reset your mind and body. They can be as brief as a few seconds or last several minutes. Read more on why and how you should incorporate these breaks in your day.
A multifaceted pop star, who has arguably been more well-known recently for her makeup and skincare lines, released a new No. 1 song this week—her first new hit in almost a decade. Who is it?
Check your answer.
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