Happy International Women's Day! This year's celebration is indeed a special one, as the world tips their hats to all the wonderful women across the globe who so richly deserve to be celebrated. Women of all walks of life , different experiences, and journeys have all come together today to share their stories of strength, courage, and perseverance. In order to get to where they are today, many of these incredible women have looked to others for inspiration and motivation along the way. It's hard to narrow down the most incredible ladies in the world that have served as role models, but highlighting a few can shed light on the phenomenal leadership roles that exist in today's modern world. Here's a quick spotlight some of the female billionaires that have inspired so many women with their influence and have led with their strength and example.
Forbes is credited for stating that some of the biggest leaders are in fact, women, and today we all take note.
Oprah Winfrey
One of the world's most powerful, influential females that tops the billionaire list is Oprah Winfrey. She tops the list due to the tremendous reach she has to millions of adoring fans across the globe. Oprah Winfrey's net worth currently sits at $3.5 billion, and she has worked hard to launch herself to this level of success. Unlike many other females that hold this same level of power, Oprah Winfrey has not been born into wealth. Quite contrary, she has earned every dollar she has by working hard and persisting through challenging times to become a self-made billionaire.
Working her way up the ladder, Oprah's success boomed through her innate ability to connect with her audience on her talk show. Her incredible foresight and smart business moves have enabled her to build an empire in the entertainment industry.
Millions of women look up to Oprah as a real-life success story, a pinnacle of strength, and a true leader. She has inspired women to believe in themselves and has invested millions of dollars in charities, donations, and funds that have helped to generate opportunities for women and children across the globe.
Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart is recognized as being the wealthiest citizens in all of Australia. She leads the country not only with her financial wealth, but through her knowledge, leadership, and generosity.
She was born to iron-ore explorer Lang Hancock, and Gina eventually stepped in to save his company , Hancock Prospecting, when it experienced financial stress and business related difficulties. Through hard work and her laser-focused business ethics, Gina was able to not only save but to exponentially grow the family business. Sitting at a net worth of a whopping $18.7 billion Gina Rinehart is a secret hero. While many others of her wealth and stature are known to make a public display of their generous donations, Rinehart is completely disinterested in basking in the glory of her good deeds.
Donating millions of dollars anonymously, Rinehart has demonstrated that good deeds aren't meant to glamorize or glorify the person making the donation. The West dug deep to uncover the fact that she donated $6 million to flying doctors and life saving equipment to aid in the fight against the coronavirus, but you'd never hear this from Rinehart herself. Keeping her donations private, is just one of the many admirable traits so many women credit her for.
Mackenzie Bezos
Mackenzie Bezos, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos is as generous as she is wealthy. In spite of having a current net worth of just over $53 billion, her fans and followers find her to be completely relatable and have easily identified her as being a role model for women of all ages.
Recognizing that she has more money than she will ever need for herself, Mackenzie has made it her life's mission to contribute to those in need and use her fortune to better the lives of others. She routinely and generously shares her wealth in the most unexpected ways, inspiring women around the world to find kindness and do good deeds in whatever capacity they are able to.
Just a few months ago, Recode revealed that Bezos donated over $4 billion over a mere 4 month period, to over 400 non profit groups.
Recode is quoted as stating; "Over the past year, Scott has emerged as one of the most publicly generous philanthropists, parting with $6 billion and raising her profile after her record-setting divorce from Bezos, the world’s richest person."
Diane Hendricks
On this important day, as the world looks to various women that have had an impact on society, it's impossible to ignore the great inspiration that millions of people have drawn from Diane Hendricks.
The true story of launching herself from her blue collar world to become among the world's wealthiest people is admirable, to say the least. With a current net worth of $8 billion, it's hard to believe that this powerhouse came from very humble beginnings.
Diane was once a single mom struggling to make ends meet. Born to a large family with roots in dairy farming, Hendricks now heads ABC Supply, which Forbes states is "one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing, siding and windows in America." The company now has 780 locations and generates billions in sales. Giving back to the community, Hendricks has spent millions on local economic development and has made it possible for countless local businesses to thrive.