Australia ranks seventh globally but has the youngest self-made female billionaires at average age 49
What’s happening: Women represent just 13% of global billionaires, with self-made female billionaires comprising only 3.6% worldwide, yet their numbers have surged 81% since 2015, reaching combined wealth of $1.7 trillion.
Why this matters: Seven countries dominate the creation of self-made female billionaires, revealing distinct patterns in entrepreneurial ecosystems, age demographics and industry strengths that enable women to build billion-dollar fortunes independently.
Women represent just 13% of the world’s billionaires, and those who built their fortunes from scratch are even rarer, just 3.6% globally. Yet their influence is growing fast. Since 2015, the number of self-made female billionaires has jumped 81%, with their combined wealth now topping $1.7 trillion.
Reboot Online analysed Forbes’s billionaire list to identify which countries produce the most self-made female billionaires, revealing seven nations that dominate this exclusive club.
America leads the pack
The United States leads the world with 51 self-made female billionaires, 38% more than China’s 37. The US has a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and venture capital networks, as well as a culture that encourages innovation and risk-taking.
High-profile figures include Lyndal Stephens Greth, who chairs Endeavour Energy Resources, a private oil exploration firm acquired by Diamondback Energy in 2024. With a net worth of $25.8 billion, she ranks second amongst the wealthiest women in the world and represents the vast fortunes generated in the energy sector.
Meanwhile, the tech sector is shaping the next generation of billionaires. Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, became the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire at 30, surpassing global icons like Taylor Swift.
China’s tech revolution
China’s 37 self-made female billionaires reflect the country’s rapid growth and tech-driven economy. Their average age is 58, the second youngest group globally, highlighting how China is generating wealth at a younger age than most other countries.
Among them is Zhou Chaonan, chair of Range Intelligent Computing Technology Group, a leading provider of data centre services. With a net worth of $7.3 billion, she ranks 13th globally among the wealthiest self-made women and has played a key role in expanding the company’s influence in the industry.
Germany’s young achievers
Germany ranks third with 18 self-made female billionaires, but boasts one of the youngest average ages at 56, reflecting strength in publishing, media, and healthcare.
Christiane Schoeller, with a net worth of $5.4 billion, holds a significant stake in Holtzbrinck Publishing Group and has helped shape the company’s direction. Meanwhile, Katharina von Baumbach, valued at over $5 billion, represents a new generation of wealth at just 25, playing an active role in Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s largest privately held pharmaceutical companies.
Australia’s age advantage
Australia ranks seventh with two self-made female billionaires, and with an average age of 49, they are by far the youngest group on the list, around 21% younger on average than those in the United States.
Among these entrepreneurs, Melanie Perkins, worth $5.8 billion, is cofounder and CEO of design software company Canva, which reached a $40 billion valuation with private investors in 2021, and ranks 22nd globally among the wealthiest self-made women.
The complete ranking shows India in fourth place with 9 self-made female billionaires (average age 65), Turkey fifth with 4 (average age 68), and the United Kingdom sixth with 3 (average age 71).
This article is based on research conducted by Reboot Online. All data, rankings, and analysis referenced in this article are sourced from their study
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