Forget trust funds — these women built billion-dollar empires from the ground up.
Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s richest self-made women proves that grit, vision, and sometimes a little disruption can go a long way. (a
From roofing supplies to AI startups, here are the top 10 women dominating the financial game — and what their rise says about the future.
Diane Hendricks
The queen of the list for years now. Hendricks chairs ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing materials in America. Net worth: $22.3 billion. Built it with her late husband, kept it growing on her own.
Judy Love & Family
Built Love’s Travel Stops into a roadside empire. What started with one gas station now fuels thousands across the U.S. Estimated net worth: $13.1 billion — and still family-run.
Judy Faulkner
She didn’t just write code — she rewrote health care. Faulkner founded Epic Systems, the electronic medical records company powering hospitals across the U.S. Worth: $7.8 billion and rising.
Thai Lee
CEO of SHI International, one of the biggest IT providers you’ve never heard of. With a sharp grip on corporate tech solutions, Lee quietly amassed a fortune worth $7.0 billion.
Marian Ilitch
Little Caesars isn’t just pizza — it’s a billion-dollar brand. Ilitch cofounded the chain and now oversees the Ilitch family’s sports, entertainment, and casino empire. Net worth: $6.9 billion.
Elizabeth Uihlein
Packaging might not sound sexy — until you realize Uline dominates the market. Uihlein and her husband turned boxes, tape, and pallets into a $5.7 billion net worth.
Lynda Resnick
The branding force behind POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, and Wonderful Pistachios. With a deep sense for consumer demand and design, Resnick built a fortune now at $5.6 billion.
Gail Miller
Took over the car dealership business from her late husband and grew it massively. The Miller family empire now includes sports teams and philanthropy. Estimated worth: $4.6 billion.
Jayshree Ullal
As CEO of Arista Networks, Ullal helped build one of Silicon Valley’s cloud networking giants. She joined early and never left — now worth $4.5 billion.
Johnelle Hunt
Cofounded J.B. Hunt Transport Services, one of the largest trucking companies in America. Her behind-the-scenes business sense earned her a fortune of $3.9 billion.
The Trends
- Industrial Strength: Roofing, trucking, gas stations, and packaging dominate. Old-school America still pays big.
- Health care & Tech Rising: Faulkner and Ullal prove software and networks aren’t just for men in hoodies.
- Quiet Power: Many of these names aren’t household, but their companies touch every part of daily life.
- New Blood Incoming: Lucy Guo (age 30) just passed Taylor Swift to become the youngest self-made female billionaire.
The next wave is already here.
(As a side note, on Kalshi’s “Who will be the world’s first trillionaire?” prediction market, there’s only men.)
