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Those honorable traits plus extraordinary wealth make these fascinating women especially worthy of our admiration--and envy. They range from the 'Queen of Media,' Oprah Winfrey to women you've never heard of, including the world's richest woman whose wealth is almost ten times more than Oprah's $2.5 billion.
In honor of these women, we selected the dozen we'd most like to be, or at least meet.
· Article: World's Richest Women
Next: Liliane BettencourtMore From Forbes:
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Patrick Kovarik, AFP / Getty Images
Liliane Bettencourt
$22.9 billion
France
Daughter of L'Oreal founder Eugene Schueller, a man who is said to have a checkered past with wartime ties to the Nazi regime, Liliane is the world's richest woman, thanks to her controlling stake in the cosmetics giant. She has held the stock for more than four decades.
· More on Liliane Bettencourt
Next: Begunham Dogan FaralyaliMore From Forbes:
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Courtesy Ozer
Begunham Dogan Faralyali
$1 billion
Turkey
Daughter of Turkey's richest media-mogul family. Began her career as an Arthur Andersen consultant in New York and later advised Europe's leading media and technology firms.
· More on Begunham Faralyali
Next: Cristina GreenMore From Forbes:
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Chris Jackson, Getty Images
Cristina Green
$8.4 billion
United Kingdom
Glamorous wife of retailing billionaire Philip Green whose stable of brands includes Topshop and British Home Stores. Known for playing hostess at star-studded galas the couple throw at their mansion in Monaco.
· More on Cristina Green
Next: Hind HaririMore From Forbes:
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Ramzi Haidar, Getty Images
Hind Hariri
$1.1 billion
Lebanon
Daughter of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, inherited a stake in family's construction, media and banking holdings. At age 24, she is the youngest female billionaire and the second-youngest billionaire in the world.
· More on Hind Hariri
Next: Heidi HortenMore From Forbes:
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Tuma/Contrast/Gamma/Zuma Press
Heidi Horten
$3.7 billion
Austria
Austria's "merry widow" inherited an estimated $1 billion fortune from late husband, retailer Helmut Horten, in 1987. Divides her time between homes in Switzerland, Austria and the Bahamas.
· More on Heidi Horten
· See All the Richest Women
More on AOL: Young BillionairesMore From Forbes:
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Young BillionairesAs part of Forbes' 22nd annual World's Billionaires list, we take a look at some of this year's youngest members.
Click through our gallery for a glimpse of 10 individuals who are wealthy beyond their years. See what they are worth and how they obtained their fortunes.
Gallery: 10 Billionaires 35 and Under
More on AOL: Unknown BillionairesMore From Forbes:
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Cassandra Shie, AOL
Also on AOL:
Unknown BillionairesMad money does not always equal fame. These folks manage to skirt the public eye despite their billions. We're not talking about famous and reclusive. We're talking about being flat-out unknown among the masses.
Gallery: Richest People You've Never Heard Of
Next: More Special FeaturesMore From Forbes:
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More in Money & Finance:
Rich & Single
This year 110 unattached men, including singles, divorcees and widowers, with an average net worth of $4.1 billion, made Forbes' 22nd annual ranking of the World's Billionaires.
From that elite group of men, Forbes selected 10 of the most eligible to profile. Click through our gallery to see their top picks.
Billionaire Bachelors
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Recent Comments
Ransoktam 04:26:08 PM Jul 18 2008
You have to admire a Woman that can hold it together like these Women .Begunham Dogan Faralyali sounds nice >> To bad she is taken : )
UserVick3633 10:40:50 AM May 19 2008
oprah, is number one in my book she has turned millions, and millions of lives around. Do I see alittle jealousy in some of your comments I Have a Question for all of your negative comments. What have you done for your fellow man? Probaly nothing , you like to set on the side lines and condemn anyone who is doing more in a second , than you have done in your intire life. GOOOO Oprah! And God Bless you!
LRFARL1012 09:44:22 PM May 13 2008
oprah want have me as a viewer any more if she does not beleive in heaven then I do not want on her team. because when my life is over here I will walk the streets of gold in heaven thank god for his plan he offered everyone no matter the color of your skin.
Allpack2 03:36:54 PM May 13 2008
"Tomorrow on Oprah, Men Who Breathe and How We Can Stop Them."
Harryhipy 12:36:56 PM May 13 2008
luweegee, is one of the most ignorant people to ever make a comment on this page.
evidently he wears the Hitler hat, and the costume of the Klan, and the mind of Manson, the mass killer and all of his days are cloudy. It's a shame we have to breathe the same air. may God Help Him.
Luweegee3 11:20:53 AM May 13 2008
OPRAH is nothing more then a racist,,her and barack have 1 thing in common they both know Rev Wright,,tks for nothng Ophra you big phony baloney
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