Behind every successful man, there is a woman. Yes, and in the case of the world’s leading billionaires, there are some very accomplished and busy women who are thriving in their own lanes. From carving their own niches to being involved in their billionaire partners’ endeavors, or even matching their business acumen and leading the charge, they are doing it all and then some. From pediatricians to supermodels to concert pianists, the wives of some of the world’s richest tycoons are inspiring in their own right and have stories that deserve to be shared. Let’s delve into the lives of the leading ladies of the richest men in the world.
Miranda Kerr, supermodel and author-
The breathtaking 41-year-old is an Australian model, businesswoman, and author. She first made history by becoming the first Australian Victoria’s Secret model and an Angel in 2007. The founder and CEO of KORA Organics, a certified organic skincare brand sold in 30 countries, she has penned two books, Treasure Yourself and Empower Yourself.
Despite her accomplishments in the modeling sphere, she has consistently ranked on the Forbes list of highest-earning models since 2008. Kerr became a Certified Health Coach after graduating from the New York School of Integrative Nutrition in 2010. She tied the knot with Snap co-founder Evan Speigel, who was her close friend for a long time before they started dating. But once love came knocking, there was no stopping them, and in May 2017, Miranda and Evan wed in a gorgeous backyard ceremony.
Salma Hayek, actress and film producer-
This 58-year-old Hollywood star made the world stop to take notice in her 1995 film Desperado, opposite Antonio Banderas. Throughout her career, she has received accolades for her myriad roles and has been nominated for multiple awards, including a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in the biopic.
The wife of French billionaire and Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022. The power couple met at a gala event in Venice in 2006, and sparks flew instantly. The business bug did bite her eventually; as one of Hollywood’s most powerful and influential Latina actresses, she launched ventures like Juice Generation’s juice delivery program Cooler Cleanse in 2008, a line of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products called Nuance by Salma Hayek in 2011, and a beauty subscription delivery service, Blend It Yourself in 2017.
Nita Ambani, philanthropist and businesswoman-
There is no doubt that Asia’s richest family is leading a luxurious life, as the world has recently witnessed through a string of wedding parties and celebrations. But what also deserves to be celebrated is the matriarch behind it all. Nita Mukesh Ambani has her plate full with philanthropy, sports, education, art, and business. In between all this, she excels at multi-million-dollar wedding functions in different corners of the globe. The founder of the Reliance Foundation and Dhirubhai Ambani International School, and director of Reliance Industries, she enjoys a family fortune of over $107 billion.
The avid art collector is also the owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team, The Mumbai Indians. Among her most recent accomplishments is the state-of-the-art, four-story Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), a 16,000-square-foot hub of culture with massive exhibition space and three theatres. While their lives are full of glamor today, Nita, who was once a school teacher, met a humble Mukesh, and the businessman proposed to her during a traffic jam on a bustling Mumbai road.
Lucinda Southworth, research geneticist-
The research geneticist boasts an MSc degree from Oxford University and a PhD in Biomedical Informatics from Stanford University. Between her work in science and research, she is also actively involved in charity. The 45-year-old founded the Carl Victor Page Memorial Foundation along with her husband, Google co-founder Larry Page, worth $136 billion, and is also actively involved in her mother’s charities in Africa.
The couple tied the knot at a private ceremony on Necker Island, a Caribbean enclave owned by Richard Branson, who was also Page’s best man. The high-profile nuptials of the world’s seventh richest man and his lady love saw 600 guests descend on Necker Island, including U2 frontman Bono and several business bigwigs in 2007.
Hélène Mercier Arnault, concert pianist-
Unlike expectations, one wouldn’t find the wife of LVMH Boss Bernard Arnault, worth $181 billion, head to toe in Louis Vuitton, but that would require finding her first. Far away from the limelight is the world’s fifth richest man’s wife of over 30 years, who prefers to draw attention not because of her last name but because of her music. An accomplished pianist, the Montreal native began her music career at age 6, studying at the Vincent d’Indy School of Music, and has played alongside many renowned musicians, including Vladimir Spivakov, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Brigitte Engerer.
Her talent has been showcased with the Prague Philharmonia, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and many other prestigious platforms. She shared with La Presse, “Music allows me to have a parallel life, different from my life with my husband and children. Most of the orchestra musicians I play with have no idea who my husband is, and I admit that one of the things I appreciate most about this life is the anonymity.”
Priscilla Chan, former pediatrician and philanthropist-
Chan (who received a full scholarship to attend Harvard) went from meeting a sophomore Zuckerberg in a bathroom line at a Harvard University fraternity party to being his wife for 12 years. Together, they share three daughters, Maxima, August, and Aurelia, who have created a perfect little cocoon for their little family. While Zuckerberg, the world’s fourth richest man worth $200 billion, is widely talked about, his better half, Chan, also boasts accomplishments that must be highlighted.
The former pediatrician received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. She left the medical field to focus on philanthropy after co-founding the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in 2015. CZI is a philanthropic organization that focuses on health, education, and scientific research. In 2016, they also founded CZI Biohub, a medical research center. The daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States on refugee boats is truly a picture of inspiration and an achiever in the truest sense of the term.
Lauren Sanchez, former news anchor, author, helicopter pilot-
All the world could talk about was a scandal linking billionaire Bezos, the world’s second-richest man worth $206 billion, to the sultry Lauren Sanchez amid his divorce from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Most still prefer to focus on her sartorial choices, her superyacht escapades, and her stunning lineup of A-list friends. But beyond the glamour, the 54-year-old has a long list of accomplishments, perhaps surpassing those of her wealthy partner when it comes to skills.
From being an award-winning helicopter pilot to an author riding high on the success of her children’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space, the American media personality has made waves for all the right reasons. The Albuquerque-born beauty first gained fame as an entertainment reporter and news anchor. She is the vice chair of the $10 billion Bezos Earth Fund and is actively involved with the Bezos Academy, which creates tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools for disadvantaged children.
