Although Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is no longer the world’s richest woman, her financial growth in 2025 remains remarkable. With a current net worth of $92.9 billion, the L’Oréal heiress has added $18.5 billion to her fortune this year—a 24.8% gain—despite challenges in sectors like luxury goods and consumer products.
Still, her current wealth remains below her peak of $100 billion, according to Bloomberg’s real-time billionaire index. As chair of Tethys, the Bettencourt family’s investment firm, Bettencourt Meyers retains control of 34.7% of L’Oréal’s share capital, based on the company’s 2023 annual report.
L’Oréal, a global leader in cosmetics with brands such as Lancôme, Garnier, and Kiehl’s, reported €43.5 billion ($47 billion) in annual revenue last year. Despite ongoing dominance in the beauty industry, the company has faced headwinds in certain areas, particularly in household and laundry products, affecting some of its broader investments.
Strategic Growth Bolsters Fortunes
Her wealth has remained resilient, supported by L’Oréal’s strategic initiatives. On July 5, the company announced its acquisition of Color Wow, a fast-growing professional haircare brand known for products like Dream Coat and XL Bombshell Volumizer. Founded in 2013 by Gail Federici, Color Wow has a strong presence in the U.S. and U.K., backed by more than 130 beauty awards and a loyal online following. The acquisition reflects L’Oréal’s bet on the high-growth, style-driven haircare segment.
Although Bettencourt Meyers does not manage L’Oréal’s daily operations, her influence as a major shareholder and board member is significant. Through Tethys and her position on the board, she has helped shape the company’s long-term direction. Her son, Jean-Victor Meyers, has also been a L’Oréal board member since 2012, reinforcing the family's role in its leadership.
Family Legacy and Personal Interests
Bettencourt Meyers inherited her stake in the company following the death of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, in 2017. Despite a high-profile legal dispute in 2007 concerning her mother’s well-being and financial exploitation, she emerged as the main heir. Under French inheritance law, she received at least half of the estate, though she now effectively manages the family fortune as head of Tethys.
Outside the business world, she is known for her academic contributions, having written a five-volume biblical commentary and scholarly works on Greek mythology and interfaith studies. She also co-founded the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation with her mother, which supports research, the arts, and social causes.
Despite a brief $291 million dip in early July, Bettencourt Meyers’ long-term financial trajectory remains upward. With strategic acquisitions like Color Wow and a continually evolving product portfolio, L’Oréal—and by extension, the Bettencourt fortune—appears set to grow further in a global beauty market eager for innovation.
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