Francoise Bettencourt Meyers: The Trailblazing Woman Behind the $100 Billion Fortune

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has achieved a historic feat, becoming the first woman to amass a staggering $100 billion fortune. As the vice-chair of the board of L'Oreal, she oversees a global beauty empire founded by her grandfather, Eugene Schueller, in 1909. Despite maintaining a low public profile, Bettencourt Meyers' wealth soared to $100.1 billion, making her the 12th-richest person globally.

L'Oreal's stock reaching a record high has been a significant contributor to this milestone, marking its best year since 1998. The company, valued at $268 billion, has maintained its stronghold in the beauty industry. Bettencourt Meyers, along with her family, holds nearly 35% of L'Oreal's shares, solidifying their status as the single biggest shareholders.

While she trails behind France's Bernard Arnault, the founder of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Bettencourt Meyers' fortune places her ahead of many prominent figures globally. Her private life contrasts with the glitzy social scenes of other wealthy individuals, choosing instead to focus on intellectual pursuits, such as playing the piano for hours daily and authoring books on topics like the Bible and Greek mythology.

The 70-year-old heiress came into her wealth after the passing of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, in 2017. The inheritance marked the end of a legal battle that had evolved from a family feud into a political scandal. The recent Netflix documentary, "L'Affaire Bettencourt," delves into this saga, revealing secret recordings and a family entangled in controversies.

Despite challenges during the pandemic, L'Oreal has rebounded, experiencing a 35% surge in its stock this year. Consumer Edge Research analyst Brett Cooper predicts a further 12% rise in the company's stock over the next year, emphasizing its resilience.

Bettencourt Meyers extends her influence beyond L'Oreal by chairing her family's holding company, Tethys. With a focus on long-term investments in entrepreneurial projects, Tethys Invest SAS, a subsidiary set up by Bettencourt Meyers and her husband Jean-Pierre Meyers, has diversified its portfolio. Recent acquisitions include stakes in French insurance broker April Group and a decade-old fashion brand, Sezane. The company is partly funded by L'Oreal dividends.

As the trailblazing woman behind the $100 billion fortune, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of her family and France's expanding influence in the global beauty and fashion industries.