Amid recent reports that Australia is the second most popular location for millionaires to migrate to, surpassing the USA, it can be revealed that Australia is home to the fifth-highest number of female billionaires in the world.
That’s according to the latest study from City Index, which scraped the Forbes live billionaire tracker to find the country that is home to the most female billionaires.
Countries with the most female billionaires
|
Rank |
Country |
Number of female billionaires |
|
1. |
United States |
92 |
|
2. |
China |
46 |
|
3. |
Germany |
32 |
|
4. |
Italy |
16 |
|
=5. |
Australia |
9 |
|
=5. |
India |
9 |
|
=5. |
Hong Kong |
9 |
|
=8. |
Spain |
8 |
|
=8. |
Switzerland |
8 |
|
=10. |
Brazil |
7 |
|
=10. |
Sweden |
7 |
|
=12. |
France |
6 |
|
=12. |
Canada |
6 |
|
=14. |
Denmark |
4 |
|
=14. |
Israel |
4 |
Australia has the fifth-highest number of female billionaires
Australia has the fifth-highest number of female billionaires (9), tying with India and Hong Kong. While each country represents less than a tenth of the number of female billionaires in the US, Australia’s self-made billionaires stand-out. Australia’s female billionaires include Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins (net worth $3.62bn) and mining magnate Gina Reinhart (net worth $43.17bn), who are both from Perth, Western Australia.
According to City Index, the United States has the highest number of female billionaires in the world with 92 in total, double that of China in second place with 46. While the US might be home to some of the highest profile male billionaires, 4 out of the 5 richest women in the world, including Walmart heiress Alice Walton, also hail from the states.
Germany takes third place with 32 female billionaires, just over a third of that of the US. These include German automotive empire heiress Susanne Klatten ($27.58bn), and the family of Francine von Finck ($8.27 bn), daughter of late billionaire businessman August von Finck Jr.
In fourth place, the second European country in the top ranking, Italy, is home to 16 female billionaires, half that of nearby Germany. Campari heiress Alessandra Garavoglia ($3.44bn) and iconic designer Miuccia Prada ($5.24bn) head up the list of Italian female billionaires, a testament to the country’s love of food and fashion.
Australian female billionaires with the highest net worth
|
Rank |
Name |
City |
Net worth (billions AUD) |
|
1. |
Gina Rinehart |
Perth |
$43.17 |
|
2. |
Melanie Perkins |
Perth |
$5.27 |
|
3. |
Fiona Geminder |
Melbourne |
$3.77 |
|
4. |
Heloise Pratt |
Melbourne |
$3.17 |
|
5. |
Ginia Rinehart |
Sydney |
$3.16 |
|
=6. |
Bianca Rinehart |
Brisbane |
$3.14 |
|
=6. |
Hope Welker |
New York |
$3.14 |
|
8. |
Gretel Packer |
Sydney |
$2.20 |
|
9. |
Angela Bennett |
Perth |
$2.18 |
The Rinehart family make up almost half (44%) of Australia’s female billionaires, with heiress and mining tycoon Gina Rinehart’s $43.17 billion AUD net worth taking first place, making her the richest woman in Australia. Her three daughters, Ginia Rinehart, Bianca Rhinehart and Hope Welker are all worth at least $3 billion AUD, with Bianca and Hope each worth $3.14 billion, and Gina taking the edge with $3.16 billion — still just 7% of her mother’s current fortune.
Canva mogul Melanie Perkins takes second place with her $5.27 billion AUD net worth, an 88% drop from Gina Rinehart’s colossal wealth. Melbourne’s heiress sisters Fiona Geminder and Heloise Pratt are worth $3.77 billion AUD and $3.17 billion AUD respectively, with Fiona’s $7m increase likely due to her stakes in Visy and Pact Group.
