Below is the list of the top 10 richest women in America and how they made their money.
- Diane Hendricks
Diane Hendricks, 77, is the richest American businesswoman and film producer with a net worth of $15 billion according to Forbes Magazine list of top self-made women in America. She is the chairperson and co-founder of ABC Supply which deals with wholesale distribution of roofing, windows, gutters, ceiling tiles, metal framing, wallboards and siding materials.
In 1976, with her husband, they purchased and renovated 200 homes. These homes were then rented out.
Diane is also the chairperson of Hendricks Holding Co. which engages in manufacturing, real estate development, recycling, distribution and life sciences. Her husband Ken Hendricks died by falling through his roof.
At the beginning of her career she worked as a playboy bunny. This is a position of a glorified waitress. She later switched into a real estate career. As a real estate developer, she worked tirelessly sometimes sleeping in her car and using public restrooms to prepare for a new day.
ABC Supply Company was established in 1982 when they started distribution of construction products from different manufacturers. For three years they spent their time acquiring timber yards in various places. Currently, the company has 900 supply locations across America. In 2022, the company generated $18.5 billion in revenues.
The company owns a fleet of trucks such as flatbeds, semi-tractors, trailers, box trucks, forklifts, double cabins, for transporting construction materials. Diane Hendricks never went to college.
Hendricks Commercial Properties: The company manages and develops real estate properties throughout the United States of America. The company was founded by Diane in 1974. The company owns ABC Supply Stadium, Bodo, The Grain, Iron Works Campus, Iron Works Keystone, Century Building, Stateline Industrial, Island Plaza, 5th Avenue South and Woodfield III among others.
2. Judy Love & Family
Judy Love, 86, and family have a net worth of $10.2 billion. In 1964, the family established Truck Stops and Country Stores (gas stations). Judy Love was in charge of book keeping until 1975 when she returned to college. She earned undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from University of Central Oklahoma. Currently, the company has an excess of 610 stores across America. Their annual revenue is estimated to be $26.5 billion.
3. Judy Faulkner
Judy Faulkner, 80, is the billionaire who controls medical records in the United States of America. Her company has made money through Healthcare software. She is the CEO of Epic Systems. She has a net worth of $7.2 billion. She founded her medical records software company in 1979. She owns 47% of the company. He company’s software is used in 2,400 hospital with 225 million patients across the United States of America.
In 2020, the company generated $3.3 billion in revenues. It has taken her decades to achieve this kind of success. Her stake in Epic Systems is estimated to be worth $6 billion.
The company’s headquarters is on a 1,100 acres corporate campus in Verona, Wisconsin. Her company started as Human Services Computing in 1979. Faulkner wrote all the original code. The company added billing software in the 1980s.
The company culture is hyper-competitive and fast-paced. Faulkner who is 80 says that she has no plans to retire. Not one of her 3 children work at Epic Systems.
4. Lynda Resnick
Lynda Resnick, 81, is one of the women self-made billionaires who has made her fortune from agriculture. She is married to Stewart Resnick who is also her business partner. Their firm is called The Wonderful Company.
They own Fiji Water and POM Wonderful, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Landmark Wines, Justine Wines, Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds among other brands. She also owns Paramount Farms and
5. Thai Lee- IT Provider
Thai Lee has a net worth of $5.3 billion. She is the CEO as well as President of SHI International (IT provider) which is the largest business owned by a woman in the United States of America.
Thai Lee was born in 1958 in Bangok Thailand. Her company employs over 6,000 people spread across USA, UK, Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong and France. The company was established in 1989. Lee was the first Korean Woman to graduate from Harvard Business School. She owns 60% of SHI International while her ex-husband owns 40% of the shares.
6. Johnelle Hunt
Johnelle Hunt, 91, has a net worth of $4.9 billion. She is the co-founder of J.B Hunt Transport Services. Johnelle and her husband started their trucking business by transporting rice. In 1961, they started with 5 truckers and 7 trailers to start their trucking business.
In 2006, her husband died following injuries sustained from a fall. She joined the trucking business to continue the legacy of her husband. She installed a landline next to her bed to be able to offer support to the truckers whenever they were stuck day or night.
J.B. Hunt owns over 10,000 trucks and has on its payroll some 11,000 drivers. The company holds a party whenever the drivers surpass milestones such as 100,000 miles. Some of J.B. Hunt employees joined right out of high school or college and now they are retired. Johnelle Hunt retired from the company in 2008 but still remains the largest shareholder with 17% of the shares.
7. Gail Miller
Gail Miller, 80, is an American businesswoman and Chairwoman on Larry H. Miller Group of companies. At one time the group owned 54 car dealerships, Utah Jazz, healthcare and real estate. The group also has businesses in skilled nursing, hospice health and home health. He company purchases land and construct homes.
In 2019, the car dealership arm of their business generated $5.4 billion in sales.
In march 1965, she married Larry H. Miller and together they had five children.
8. Marian Ilitch
Marian Ilitch, 91, is a self-made American billion woman. She is the co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza with the late Mike Ilitch. The business was founded in 1959. In 1999 they formed Ilitch Holdings which is made up of Little Caesars Pizza, Champion Foods, Olympia Development, Little Caesars Love Kitchen Foundation, Detroit Red Wings, Motorcity Casino, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment and Blue Line Food Service Distribution among other businesses.
Marian Ilitch has a net worth of $4 billion. She only has a high school diploma. Never went to college.
9. Elizabeth Uihlein
Elizabeth Uihlein is one of the billionaire women of USA. She is the co-founder of Uline Inc which produces packing materials. She has a net worth of $5 billion. Uline generates $7 billion through selling its over 40,000 products through its 800+ page catalog. Uline Corp employs 8,500 people.
10 Peggy Cherng
Peggy Cherng has a net worth of $3.2 billion. She co-founded Panda Express in 1993. The Fast Food chain has over 2,400 locations. Peggy Cherng earned a doctorate in electrical engineering. The company operates 2,200 restaurants in the USA and 12 other countries.
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