Numbers show in 2024 that 369 out of the 2,781 billionaires worldwide are women. This is a slight jump from 2023, which saw 337 women billionaires worldwide. Though these might seem small numbers compared to figures with well-known names like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Bernard Arnault – the richest man in the world in 2024, they show that women are slowly moving up in the global billionaire’s club.
From heiresses inheriting their riches from wealthy parents, marrying into money, or being self-made, women billionaires in Asia come in different shapes and sizes. Some may say these women “got lucky,” but just because they had their foot in the door doesn’t always mean the doors quickly opened for them without much effort.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to 3 of Asia’s wealthiest women, who’ve proven to be more than just lucky but have proven to be tenacious, wise, and driven in their pursuits to make a mark in the region.
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Lessons From Three of Asia’s Richest Women
Hong Ra Hee, South Korea: Invest in Your Passion
Photo: CNET
Hong Ra Hee’s net worth in 2024 is USD 4.6 billion, making her one of the wealthiest women in South Korea. In 2022, she was also declared the 6th richest person in the country. The daughter of a media tycoon and high-ranking government official, Hong Ra Hee, was already wealthy in her own right before she married Lee Kun Hee, the son of the founder of Samsung Group.
However, her husband’s death in 2020 catapulted the art collector into billionaire status after the transfer of assets put her wealth into billionaire status.
But more than just the daughter of a tycoon and the wife of Samsung’s former chairman, Hong Ra Hee is also a passionate art collector and advocate. She and her husband started Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, in 2004, quickly building her as one of the most prominent art collectors in the world.
Attracting top artists and carving her path in the business world, Hong Ra Hee shows us that investing in your passion can pave the way for your success.
Shu Ping, Singapore: Get the Right Partner(s)
Photo: www.laitimes.com
It was 1994 when Shu Ping decided to use her savings to pool together an amount to start a small hot pot restaurant in Jianyang, located in the Sichuan province of China. She co-founded the Haidilao hot pot restaurant with partners Zhang Yong (who later became her husband) and two other friends. Shu Ping has continued to serve as the company’s COO or Chief Operations Officer.
With commitments to innovation, customer service, and operational efficiency, Haidilao has over 1,400 branches in China, 12 in Singapore, and other locations in more than ten countries worldwide.
Shu Ping’s net worth as of 2024 is $1.7B, and she is considered one of Singapore’s wealthiest women. Shu Ping’s family moved to Singapore in 2018, where they became naturalized citizens.
Having the right partner/s is one of the most important lessons we can take from this self-made billionaire. When starting a business, finding and connecting with people with the same vision as yourself can help propel you toward your dreams.
Thi Phuong Thao Nguyen, Vietnam: Dare To Dream Big
Photo: Theinvestor
Go big or go home! Such is the business philosophy of Vietnam’s wealthiest self-made woman billionaire. With a net worth of USD 2.8B in 2024, this VietJet founder has always been a go-getter. At only 21 years of age, Thi Phuong Thao Nguyen became a millionaire. While studying finance and economics in Russia, she started importing fax machines, rubber, and plastic from Japan into the Soviet Union, making her mark in the business world.
Using her experience and knowledge in trading, she deftly predicted the demand for increased air travel in the country, and in 2011, she launched VietJet Air, a budget airline in Vietnam, which she later took public in 2017. This bold move lifted her to the podium of self-made billionaires, making her one of the wealthiest women in Southeast Asia.
Final Thoughts
As the number of women billionaires increases yearly, it shows the world that women are slowly controlling the strings behind the shadows. Often a step behind this male-dominated world, women such as Hong Ra Hee, Shu Ping, and Thi Phuong Thao Nguen show the world that the future is female.
From launching an airline to opening a restaurant chain to becoming one of the most respected names in the industry, women billionaires show us that investing in our passions, choosing the right partners, and daring to dream big can help bring us immense wealth and success.
For more inspirational, motivational, and informational articles such as this, please feel free to browse around Truly Classy’s People articles and begin your journey to success.
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Featured Image by CafeF
