Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L’Oréal fortune, has crafted her narrative within the tapestry of one of the world’s most prominent beauty empires. With a staggering net worth of almost $88 billion, her story is not just about wealth but about a lineage of innovation, strategy, and overcoming tribulations. When Françoise’s mother passed away, she inherited the family’s 33% stake in L’Oréal, and that’s where her wealth skyrocketed.
But Françoise isn’t just about money, he prefers a life filled with books and music over flashy parties. Even with her name attached to one of the most successful beauty brands in history, she keeps her life private and focused on her family. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers shows us that being rich isn’t just about having money, it’s about what you do with it and how you live your life. Let’s look into her fascinating journey to wealth.
How she inherited the L’Oréal Fortune
The foundation of Bettencourt Meyers’ wealth is rooted in the success of L’Oréal, the cosmetics giant founded by her grandfather, Eugène Schueller, a pharmacist who laid the cornerstone of the beauty empire in 1909.in 1909. Upon Schueller’s death, his daughter, Liliane Bettencourt, Françoise’s mother, inherited the fortune and control of L’Oréal in 1957. The company burgeoned, becoming synonymous with beauty and innovation.
Unlike the socialite lifestyle embraced by her parents, Bettencourt Meyers steered away from the glamour, preferring the company of books and music to that of the glittering high society. This predilection for a quieter life, however, never dampened her resolve to protect and grow her inheritance.
How her strategic investment saw a significant 29% in the company’s stock performance
Bettencourt Meyers inherited her mother’s stake in L’Oréal, amounting to 33%, and with it, the substantial wealth that the company commands. As a board member and through her family’s holding company, she has maintained a pivotal role in the direction of the brand. The company’s stock performance, which saw a significant 29% rise in the first half of 2023, has been a substantial contributor to her soaring net worth.
Her intellectual accomplishments and role as a board member contributed to the surge
Bettencourt Meyers’ wealth is complemented by her intellectual accomplishments. An author of works on Greek mythology, Judaism, and Catholicism, she demonstrates a profound engagement with the world of ideas, a contrast to the world of high fashion and cosmetics that underpins her fortune. Her role as a board member of L’Oréal is a testament to her active involvement in the family business, overseeing the 33% stake her family holds and guiding the brand to new heights.