Women figure largely in the world of entrepreneurship. Need proof?
In its third annual list of America's richest self-made women for 2017, Forbes featured 60 self-made female entrepreneurs, artists and personalities who are building enviable empires. The industries represented range from entertainment to food to fashion, and the list itself includes bold-face names like Taylor Swift and Beyonce, as well as lesser-known but incredibly successful founders of prominent brands like Carolyn Rafaelian of jewelry company Alex and Ani. One of the new billionaires on the list at No. 18, Rafaelian's company--worth a reported $1 billion--is said to be considering an IPO.
Forbes reports that that the combined net worth of these women is a record of $61.5 billion. It also said the minimum net worth for entrants was $260 million this year, $10 million higher than in 2016.
Here are the top 10 female entrepreneurs featured on Forbes' list:
1. Marian Ilitch
She co-founded Little Caesars Pizza in 1959 with her husband, who died in February. Her net worth is $5.1 billion.
2. Diane Hendricks
The co-founder of ABC Supply Co., a wholesale home-construction materials distributor, has a net worth is $4.7 billion.
3. Judy Love
Along with her husband Tom Love, she founded convenience store chain Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores. She has a net worth of $2.9 billion.
3. Oprah Winfrey
TV personality, director, and philanthropist, Winfrey has a net worth of $2.9 billion.
5. Doris Fisher
Co-founder of the Gap with her late husband, Donald Fisher, she has a net worth of $2.8 billion.
6. Judy Faulkner
CEO and founder of Epic Systems, a medical-record software provider, her net worth is $2.5 billion.
7. Johnelle Hunt
The largest individual shareholder of transportation company, J.B. Hunt, her net worth is $2.4 billion.
9. Elaine Wynn
Wynn co-founded Wynn resorts with her then-husband, Steve Wynn, and her net worth is $2.1 billion.
10. Lynda Resnick
Resnick founded the Wonderful Company with her husband Stewart, home to brands like Pom Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, and Fiji Water. Her net worth is $2 billion.
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that Judy Love's husband and Elaine Wynn's ex-husband were deceased; they are both alive at the time of this writing. It also mischaracterized Wynn's marital status; she and Steve Wynn have not been married since 2010. The article also misstated the name of Love's company; it is Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores. Additionally, it misspelled the surname of Marian Ilitch.
