1, Christy Walton, 56yrs old, $26.5 billion (Company: Wal-Mart, U.S.)
The widow of John Walton inherited her wealth after he died in an airplane accident in 2005. Repeating her 2010 title as world's richest woman, she got an extra bump in her fortune because of her late husband's early investment in First Solar; shares up nearly 500% since 2006 initial public offering.
2, Liliane Bettencourt, 88yrs old, $23.5 billion (Company: L'Oreal, France)
France's richest woman is heir to French cosmetic giant, L'Oreal, founded by her late father. She became the focus of a sensational family scandal; in December mother and only daughter and heir, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyer, reconciled and dropped all court cases against each other.
3, Alice Walton, 61yrs old, $21.2 billion (Company: Walmart, U.S.)
The Wal-Mart heiress's Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art set to open in Bentonville, Ark., this November. While Wal-Mart's shares are up just 5% over the past year, she collected roughly $420 million in dividends in 2010 and will rake in even more next year after the retailer raised its annual payouts by 20% starting this March.
4, Iris Fontbona, $19.2 billion (Company: Mining, Chile)
Second wife, and now widow, of billionaire Andronico Luksic, who died of cancer in 2005. Family controls Antofagasta, one of the world's largest copper miners. Also holds shares in Quinenco, a consumer packaging and beverage maker, and Plava Laguna, a chain of Croatian beach resorts.
5, Susanne Klatten, 48yrs old, $14.6 billion (Company: BMW, pharmaceuticals, Germany)
Inherited stake in automaker BMW from late father Herbert Quandt, who rescued it from bankruptcy in the early 1960s. A trained economist with an M.B.A., Klatten also inherited a 50% stake in chemical manufacturer Altana and has since increased her control of the company to 100% and delisted the firm.
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