For the more curious and for those who always want to be informed about "who reigns on Planet Earth", Forbes magazine, as usual, has compiled the ranking of the richest men and women in the world in 2012.
What amazes this year, however, is the comeback of successful women who, although still far from the assets owned by men, are still on the rise and are gradually taking a frightening position among the general rankings.
Here is the ranking list of the 10 richest women in the world in 2012:
1.Christy Walton: $25.3 billion
American, 57, Walton is the richest woman in the world. Widow of the billionaire John T. Walton, son of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, after the tragic death of her husband in a plane crash on June 27, 2005, she inherited the immense fortune with her children;
2. Liliane Bettencourt [right photo]: 24 billion dollars
French, 90 years old, she is the richest woman in France and in Europe. The only daughter of Eugène Schueller, the founder of l'Oréal, she inherited its management in 1957 and is still its main shareholder [Editor's note: L'Oréal controls Sanofi Aventis' 8.65%, Total 12.64%. Stoffers of dementia. His fortune was placed in the guardianship of his daughter Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers in 2011 following 3 years of legal battles.];
3.Alice Walton: $23.3 billion
American, 63 years old, she is the only daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart and Christy's sister-in-law. Although she owns a share in the company, she is the only one in the family not to deal directly with business, preferring art and horses;
4.Georgina Rineahrt: $18 billion
Australian, 58, is the richest in Oceania. He heads the mining colossus Hancok Prospetting and inherited the empire from his father Lang Hancok, considerably increasing the earnings of the company, one of the most important in the world in the sector;
5.Iris Fontbona: $17.8 billion
Chilean, 69, is the richest woman on the South American continent. She is the widow of Andronicus Luksic, who died in 2005, at the head of a financial empire, Luksic Group which has numerous businesses in mining, finance and industry;
6. Birgit Rausing: $14 billion
Swedish, 88 years old, he inherited the family fortune in 2000. His father-in-law is Ruben Rausing and he is the founder of Tetra Pak, the leading company in the packaging sector. Birgit married the founder's son, Gad, and took over the company upon his death;
7. Jacqueline Mars: $13.8 billion
American, 72, is the head of the confectionery giant Mars. He inherited the family fortune with the company created by his father Forrest Edward Mars and grandfather Frank C. Mars. Today, she deals with the company and charities;
8.Susanne Klatten: 13 billion
