Meet female billionaire who dethroned Elon Musk as world’s richest person

The landscape of global wealth has undergone a significant transformation, with Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, the largest shareholder of the renowned beer giant Heineken N.V., ascending to the prestigious title of the world’s richest individual.

This remarkable shift has propelled her past high-profile billionaires, including Elon Musk, who has now fallen to third place on the list.

Elon Musk, despite boasting a staggering net worth exceeding $300 billion and reporting a notable gain of $2.2 billion in just the last 24 hours, finds himself eclipsed by Carvalho-Heineken’s unprecedented rise.

Meanwhile, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has managed to maintain his position within the elite circle of the top 100 richest individuals worldwide, even as his net worth dipped by $9 million.

According to the latest updates from Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires Index, Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken’s wealth has reached an astonishing $11.04 trillion.

This historic milestone marks her as the first female billionaire ever to claim the top spot in the global wealth rankings, highlighting her exceptional ascent in the competitive landscape of billionaires and reshaping the narrative around female wealth in the business world.

Who is Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken?
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, 70, controls nearly 24% of Heineken N.V., the world’s second-largest brewer, which her late father Freddy Heineken once led.

She inherited her fortune in 2002 and, together with her husband Michel de Carvalho and their children Charles, Alexander, and Louisa Brassey, sits on Heineken’s board.

In July 2024, her wealth was estimated at $14.1 billion. Less than a year later, her net worth has ballooned into the trillions—propelled by Heineken’s global dominance, particularly in Africa, the U.S., and Europe.

Dirk Rossmann Becomes 2nd Richest
Following Charlene is Dirk Rossmann, founder of the German drugstore chain Rossmann. His family’s net worth now stands at $670.2 billion.

Rossmann, who began his business at age 25, has expanded into private equity investments and even owns a stake in Bundesliga club Hannover 96.

Elon Musk Falls to Third
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once the world’s richest, has slipped to third place despite a net worth of $349.8 billion.

Musk’s wealth dropped by over $100 billion since December 2024, largely due to a slump in Tesla stock—exacerbated by concerns over his political activities.

Still, Musk gained $2.2 billion in just 24 hours, but it wasn’t enough to reclaim the top spot.

Current Top Billionaires 
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken – $11.04 trillion
Dirk Rossmann & Family – $670.2 billion
Elon Musk – $349.8 billion
Mark Zuckerberg – $223.8 billion
Jeff Bezos – $221.1 billion
Larry Ellison – $196.6 billion
Bernard Arnault & Family – $181.8 billion
Warren Buffett – $154.9 billion
Larry Page – $142.1 billion
Sergey Brin – $135.9 billion
Nigerian Billionaires Hold Their Ground

Despite recent losses, Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest man and the only African in the world’s top 100.

Aliko Dangote – $23.9 billion (Rank 87, despite losing $9 million)
Mike Adenuga – $6.8 billion
Abdulsamad Rabiu – $5.2 billion
Femi Otedola – $1.5 billion
Dangote’s fortune is tied to his 92.3% stake in Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals. His $23 billion refinery, launched in 2024, disrupted Nigeria’s oil sector and has reshaped Africa’s energy market.

“Not Always About Innovation” – Analyst
Speaking on the shifting billionaire dynamics, financial analyst Ishaya Ibrahim noted that the world’s richest list isn’t only about innovation.

“Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and even Dangote built their fortunes through industry and innovation. Charlene, however, rose by inheriting a powerful family legacy. Holding a stake in Heineken, a globally dominant brand, naturally pulled her into unimaginable wealth,” Ibrahim explained.

Nigerian-American Adebayo Ogunlesi Sees Wealth Rise
Nigerian-born investor Adebayo Ogunlesi, now a board member of OpenAI, also saw his wealth grow to $2.3 billion, up from $1.7 billion earlier this year.

His portfolio, valued at $1.8 billion, has benefited greatly from his new influence in AI and global tech.

The world’s richest list has entered uncharted territory with Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken’s $11 trillion fortune rewriting history.

Her rise underscores how family inheritance can outpace even the most innovative entrepreneurs, while African billionaires like Dangote continue to battle global market shifts to hold their ground.