Overview
- Forbes published its 11th annual America’s Richest Self‑Made Women list on June 3, 2026, ranking 43 women and naming Diane Hendricks the top woman with an estimated $21.7 billion.
- Daniela Amodei of Anthropic jumped from No. 28 to No. 2 with an estimated $15.5 billion, a shift Forbes ties to fast valuation gains in generative AI companies.
- Several entertainers joined or rose on the list after scaling business empires, including Oprah Winfrey ($3.4B), Taylor Swift ($2B), Kim Kardashian ($1.9B), and Beyoncé and Rihanna (each $1B).
- Forbes tightened its methodology for 2026 by requiring at least $1 billion in net worth and a self‑made score of 6 or higher, valuing public stakes using June 1, 2026 stock prices and attempting verification with entrants.
- Nearly half the honorees made their fortunes in technology, concentrating wealth in states like California and Texas and suggesting that AI-driven company growth and celebrity monetization could shape where investor attention and opportunities flow next.