America’s Richest Self‑Made Women 2025: Leaders Who Built Empires

📌 The Founders Magazine 2025 Rankings & Key Metrics

• The minimum net worth to make the list rose to $350 million, up from $250 m in 2015.
• A record 38 women are billionaires in 2025, compared to just 18 in 2015.

👑 Top 5 Profiles: Wealth, Ventures & How They Did It

1. Diane Hendricks – $22.3 B – ABC Supply (Building‑materials)

From dairy farm to boardroom dominance:
Born March 2, 1947 in Mondovi, WI, Hendricks started life on a farm and became a single mom at 17. She earned her real estate license by 21 and began rehabbing homes—until 1982 when she co-founded ABC Supply with her husband Ken. After Ken’s tragic death in 2007, Diane assumed leadership and steered the company through major acquisitions: Bradco in 2010 and L&W Supply in 2016. By 2024, ABC had over 900 branches and generated ~$20.7 B in sales.

Her business acumen scored a self‑made rating of 9/10 from Forbes. She also invests deeply in community revitalization, notably through A&E’s new show Betting on Beloit, where her daughter leads restoration projects in their hometown.

2. Judy Faulkner – $7.8 B – Epic Systems (Healthcare software)

Founded Epic Systems in her basement in 1979, without any VC backing. Faulkner led development in-house for decades; today, Epic software manages records for over 250 million patients and powers institutions like Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins. She holds ~47% of the company and pledged to donate 99% of her wealth through her foundation.

3. Thai Lee – $7.0 B – SHI International (IT services & software reseller)

A Harvard‑educated immigrant from Bangkok, Lee and her then‑husband acquired a small software reseller in 1989 with under $1 M. Over 30+ years, SHI grew into a $14 B enterprise serving clients like Boeing and AT&T. Lee has served as CEO for decades, steering SHI through explosive tech growth.

4. Marian Ilitch – $6.9 B – Little Caesars & Sports & Entertainment

Alongside her late husband, she founded Little Caesars in 1959. The brand now earns over $4.5 B annually. Beyond pizza, she owns the Detroit Red Wings, co-owns the Tigers via a family trust, and is building a $1.4 B Detroit sports‑entertainment district with pizza-themed architecture.

5. Lynda Resnick – $6.3 B – The Wonderful Company (Agriculture & Beverages)

Resnick started an ad agency before partnering with her husband Stewart. Together, they turned Central Valley almonds, citrus, and Wonderful Pomegranate into a $10.6 B business. Resnick has donated over $2 B to climate research and social causes.

🚀 Emerging Stars & Notable Ventures

🎤 Lucy Guo – $1.3 B – Scale AI & Passes

At 30, Guo is now the youngest self‑made female billionaire, surpassing Taylor Swift. She co-founded Scale AI in 2016, retained a ~5% stake in the company valued near $25 B, and later launched Passes, a creator platform akin to a family‑friendly OnlyFans. Passes raised ~$40 M by 2024 but faces a class‑action lawsuit over alleged underage content—allegations Guo’s team denies.

⭐ Entertainment Icons: Turner of Fame into Fortune

• Kim Kardashian (~$1.7 B via Skims)
• Taylor Swift (~$1.6 B from Eras Tour, catalog rights)
• Rihanna (~$1 B through Fenty Beauty & Savage x Fenty)
  Also featured: Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Kylie Jenner, Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres and Barbra Streisand.

🧠 Other trailblazers & innovators

Women like Sheryl Sandberg ($2.3 B), Daniela Amodei ($1.2 B, Anthropic), Marissa Mayer (~$980 M AI startup Sunshine) reflect the Bay Area’s tech surge. Serena Williams, valued at $350 M, has transitioned into investing via her firm Serena Ventures. Agri‑innovators like Barbara Banke ($2.5 B) and diverse entrepreneurs such as Doris Fisher (Gap cofounder) also shape the list.

America’s Top 10 Richest Self‑Made Women (2025)

According to Forbes’ 2025 ranking, the net worth threshold to make the list rose to $350 million—and a record 38 of the 100 women are now billionaires.

Here’s who’s leading:

🔍 Why Their Success Matters: Key Insights

• Bootstrapped scale: Most built businesses from zero or tiny capital—like Epic, ABC Supply, Little Caesars, SHI—without VC or inheritance.
• Strategic acquisitions: Smart expansions—such as ABC’s Bradco and L&W purchases—multiplied size and market share.
• Consumer-first innovation: Thai Lee tapped enterprise IT, while Guo rode AI growth; Toni Ko (NYX Cosmetics) leveraged influencer marketing early on.
• Diversified impact: These women aren’t just wealthy—they invest philanthropically, revive communities, and shift industries.

❓ FAQs: What You’re Curious About

🧭 Final Thought

The 2025 list is more than a financial leaderboard—it’s a testament to resilience, strategic growth, innovation, and storytelling. From Diane Hendricks’ small‑town rise to Lucy Guo’s AI revolution, these women redefine wealth-building in America’s modern economy. They’ve built real businesses—and legacies.

Keep Reading:

• How Victoria’s Secret’s Les Wexner Made $2 Billion In 3 Months From AI Giant CoreWeave
• Top 10 Richest People in Israel (2025) – Billionaire List by Net Worth
• Dany Garcia: Visionary Entrepreneur, Producer, and Fitness Icon Behind Hollywood’s Power Moves
• Top 50 Richest Chinese Billionaires in 2025
• Pokémon Go Made Niantic Billions. Now It’s Ditching Gaming For AI