Who run the world? Wisconsin roofing magnate worth $4.9billion tops Forbes list of 60 richest self-made women, pipping Oprah to the top, while Beyonce and Taylor Swift also make the cut
- Roofing magnate Diane Hendricks topped Forbes' list of self-made women
- ABC Supplier co-founder has a $4.9billion fortune after starting firm in 1982
- Oprah came in second and health IT firm CEO Judy Faulkner was in third
- Beyonce, Vera Wang, Barbra Streisand and Taylor Swift also on the list
Roofing magnate Diane Hendricks topped Forbes' list of the top 60 richest self-made women
Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg and Beyonce have all made Forbes' list of the 60 richest self-made woman, but a roofing magnate with a $4.9billion fortune came out on top.
Diane Hendricks, 69, co-founded windows and guttering firm ABC Supply with her husband, Kenneth, in Wisconsin in 1982 and the widow now runs the company.
Ms Hendricks, who still shows up to her office every day, has around $1.6billion more to her name than any other woman on the list.
Other household names to make the cut were Madonna, Vera Wang, Jessica Alba, Barbra Striesand and Taylor Swift.
Ms Hendricks - who jumped straight into the world of work after finishing high school - saw her riches climb by around $1.2billion since last year, when she came second on the list.
The victor in 2015, Elizabeth Holmes, has dropped off the collection of power women altogether after allegations that her blood testing company, Theranos, made products that did not work.
The annual list celebrates women who have led the way in their field, with the ladies named in this year's edition working at top companies ranging from Google and Facebook to Spanx and Gap.
The 60 women are worth a combined $53billion and have a vast age range, with the youngest on the list - Taylor Swift, just 26 years old.
A total of 16 of the women work in fashion or retail, where as 13 work in technology.
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The majority of the women work in California, with 25, whereas eight live in New York.
Eight of the women are billionaires, including Oprah, who climbed three spots.
Other household names to make the cut were Beyonce (left), Madonna, Vera Wang, Jessica Alba, Barbra Striesand and Taylor Swift (right)
Forbes said her jump up the list was partially thanks to her recent work with Weight Watchers, which saw her acquire 10 per cent of the business. The move led to the diet firm's share price dramatically increasing.
Sheryl Sandberg's finances also had a boost this year, and as a result the Facebook chief operating officer finds herself in the top 10.
Of the musicians on the list, Madonna is the only one in the top 25, with Celine Dion in 37th and Barbra Streisand one place behind her.
Beyonce's $265million kitty saw her take 56th place, while Taylor Swift's quarter of a billion dollars was enough for her to round out the list in 60th.
SPANX, PIZZA AND OIL: HOW THE TOP 60 SELF-MADE WOMEN GOT RICH
1) Diane Hendricks. $4.9billion. Roofing
Diane Hendricks, 69, co-founded ABC Supply with her husband, Kenneth, in 1982, despite having nothing more than a high school education. The company grew rapidly and fought off the recession a few years ago as it continued to build shareholder confidence. She now runs the firm after her husband's death, and turns up to the office every day.
2) Oprah Winfrey. $3.1bn. TV
Oprah needs no introduction. The 62-year-old TV personality was once deemed the most powerful woman in America and her wealth continued to grow this year. Her recent work with Weight Watchers saw her acquire 10 per cent of the business. The move led to the diet firm's share price dramatically increasing.
Leading ladies: Diane Hendricks and Oprah Winfrey were the top two, with $4.9billion and $3.1billion each
3) Judy Faulkner. $2.4bn. Health IT
Judy Faulkner, 72, is the CEO and founder of Epic Systems, building the Wisconsin IT company from the ground up since 1979. More than 35 years later, she is still running the show, with her firm storing medical information of more than half of America. Epic Systems works with the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, as well as a vast number of other healthcare providers.
3=) Doris Fisher. $2.4bn. Gap
The 84-year-old Gap founder started the iconic clothing retailer with her husband, Donald, in 1969. After her husband's death, Ms Fisher stepped down from an active role after years of work as a merchandiser and a board member. She still holds a significant stake in the company.
Judy Faulkner (left), 72, made her money as the CEO and founder of Epic Systems. Doris Fisher (right) founded Gap
5) Johnelle Hunt. $2.3billion. Trucking
Johnelle Hunt, 84, may have dropped out of college at the University of Central Arkansas, but that did not stop her from going on to make a fortune. She and her husband J. B. Hunt sold their home to start a packaging business in 1961 and 55 years later she is still the company's biggest shareholder, although she has retired from the firm's board.
6) Marian Ilitch. $2.1bn. Little Caesars
Marain Ilitch was the financial brains behind Little Caesars after she and her husband, Mike, opened the chain's first restaurant near Detroit in 1959. She told him not to give away free meals - and her advice hasn't worked out too badly. The couple also own the MotorCity casino in Detroit, as well as hockey team the Detroit Red Wings.
Johnelle Hunt (left) made $2,3billion in trucking, while Marian Ilitch (right) made her fortune with Little Caesars
6=) Meg Whitman. $2.1bn. eBay
Meg Whitman knows how to run a business. The 59-year-old woman was CEO of technology giant Hewlett Packard when it split in too and has a track record of success at Hasbro and Walt Disney too. Her greatest feat was her strong leadership at eBay as the internet continued to expand in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Meg Whitman knows how to run a business and made her name at eBay, and is now at Hewlett Packard
8) Lynda Resnick. $2bn. Agriculture
College drop-out Lynda Resnick, now 72, and her husband, Stewart, made their fortune in agriculture and own thousands of acres of orchards and groves in the southern states and in Mexico. The power couple also own the popular Fiji Water brand.
9) Jin Sook Chang. $1.9bn. Fashion retail
Jin Sook Chang and her husband Don moved to the United States from South Korea in the early 1980s and opened thier first Fashion 21 store in Los Angeles three years later. Their remarkable rise saw them open at least two stores a year. Their company has changed name to Forever 21 and made more than $4bn in sales last year.
College drop-out Lynda Resnick (left), now 72, and her husband, Stewart, made their fortune in agriculture. Jin Sook Chang (right) owns Forever 21
9=) Judy Love. $1.9bn. Retail and gas stations
Judy Love and her husband Tom's company epitomizes the American family firm. They opened their first garage in 1964 with help from their parents, but now own 300 gas stations across the United States. The pair still work with the company, with Mr Love as CEO and chairman, while three of their children also have jobs with the chain.
11) Gail Miller. $1.6bn. Basketball and car dealers
12) Peggy Cherng. $1.5bn. Fast food
12=) Elaine Wynn. $1.5bn. Casinos and hotels
14) Sheryl Sandberg. $1.4bn. Facebook
Madonna is sitting on a $560million fortune
15) Thai Lee. $1.2bn. IT provider
16) Neerja Seth.i $1.bn. IT consulting and outsourcing
17) Sara Blakely. $1bn. Spanx
18) Christel DeHaan. $900million. Time shares
19) Tory Burch. $750m. Fashion
19=) Eren Ozmen. $750m. Aerospace
21) Sheila Johnson. $710m. Black Entertainment Television
22) Carolyn Rafaelian. $700m. Jewelry
23) Alice Schwartz. $620m. Biotech
24) Weili Dai. $570m. Semiconductors
25) Madonna. $560m. Music
26) Kathy Fields. $550m. Skin care products
26=) Katie Rodan. $550m. Skin care products
28) Safra Catz. $510m. Computer technology
29) Mary West. $500m. Telemarketing
30) Jayshree Ullal. $470m. Technology
31) Donna Karan. $450m. Fashion
31=) Lynn Tilton. $450m. Finance
33) Marissa Mayer. $430m. Business and computer science
34) Janice Bryant Howroyd. $420m. Staffing
34=) Vera Wang. $420m. Fashion retail
36) Liz Elting. $390m. Translations firm
37) Celine Dion. $380m. Music
38) Barbra Streisand. $370m. Music
39) Kathy Ireland. $360m. Retail
40) Sonia Gardner. $350m. Finance
Sheryl Sandberg (pictured at Harvard University) is chief operating officer at social media giant Facebook
40=)Susan Wojcicki. $350m. Google
42) Jessica Alba. $340m. Online retail
42=) Nora Roberts. $340m. Books
42=) Diane von Furstenberg. $340m. Fashion
45) Kit Crawford. $330m. Clif Bar & Co
46) Jane Hsiao. $320m. Biotech
46=) Nancy Zimmerman. $320m. Hedge funds
48) Danielle Steel. $310m. Books
49) Patricia Miller. $300m. Accessories
49=) Pleasant Rowland. $300m. American Girl dolls
49=) Adi Tatarko $300m. Home design
52) Judy Sheindlin. $290m. TV
53) Sophia Amoruso. $280m. Online retail
54) Barbara Bradley Baekgaard. $270m. Accessories
54=) Dorothy Herman. $270m. Douglas Elliman
56) Beyoncé Knowles. $265m. Music
57) Toni Ko. $260m. NYX Cosmetics
57=) Kathy Lehne. $260m. Oil
57=) Lynda Weinman. $260m. Online education
60) Taylor Swift. $250m. Music
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