Each year Forbes Magazine releases its lists of the world's richest men and women. In the case of the women, much remained the same as the 2011 list including the fact that most of the women are not self-made, but instead inherited their money. Many of the richest women in the world are American. Here's a list of the richest women in the U.S

Christy Walton ($25.3 billion)

Christy Walton is the widow of John Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. After John Walton died in a plane crash in 2006, Christy inherited his fortune including enough stock to make more than $220 million in dividends in just six months. With the recent price appreciation of Walmart's stock, the Walton family's wealth has continued to grow.

Alice Walton ($23.3 billion)

Alice Walton is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and heiress to a portion of the Walton fortune. She recently opened an art museum with art being displayed from the Walton estate. Although she is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations, her reputation has been clouded by a series of DUI arrests.

Jacqueline Mars ($13.8 billion)

Jacqueline Mars made her money from M&Ms, Snickers, Dog Food and many of the other products we use every day. The Mars company currently has revenue of $30 billion annually and is the world's largest confectionary company. Jacqueline Mars is the third generation of the Mars family after her grandfather, Frank Mars, founded the company in 1911.

Anne Cox Chambers ($12.5 billion)

Anne Cox is the daughter of James Cox, the founder of Cox Enterprises. James Cox worked as a school teacher until buying a local newspaper in 1898 which sparked a media business that includes 17 newspapers, 15 TV stations and 86 radio stations.

Abigail Johnson ($10. 3 billion)

Abigail Johnson's father, Edward Crosby "Ned" Johnson, controls Fidelity Investments which is the largest mutual fund company in the United States. She is already one of the top executives at the firm, but there is a rumoured succession plan in place. Abigail Johnson began working at Fidelity in 1988 as an analyst and she holds a Master's in Business Administration from Harvard University.

Alakija is actually worth at least $3.3 billion.

Here’s her recent interview on CNN’s African Voices where she talks about her success, her new book and more.

Nigerian Billionaire Oil Tycoon, Folorunsho Alakija replaces Oprah Winfrey as the World’s Richest Black Woman

Folorunsho Alakija is now ranked as the World’s Richest Black Woman. According to the report, she has ousted Oprah Winfrey from the position.

Ventures Africa claims that contrary to the Forbes Magazine ranking which pegs her net worth at only $600 million, Alakija is actually worth at least $3.3 billion. She earned most of her wealth from the oil and gas sector.

Alakija, 61, started out her professional career in the mid 70s as a secretary at the now defunct International Merchant Bank of Nigeria, one of the country’s earliest investment banks. In the early 80s, she quit her job and went on to study Fashion design in England, returning to Nigeria shortly afterwards to start Supreme Stitches, a premium Nigerian fashion label which catered exclusively to upscale clientele.

In May 1993 Alakija applied for an allocation of an Oil Prospecting License (OPL). The license to explore for oil on a 617,000 acre block – (now referred to as OPL 216) was granted to Alakija’s company, Famfa Limited. In September 1996, she entered into a joint venture agreement with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Texaco) and appointed the company as a technical adviser for the exploration of the license, transferring 40 percent of her 100 percent stake to Star Deep. Subsequently, Star Deep sold off 8 percent of its stake in OPL 216 to Petrobas, a Brazilian company. Folorunsho Alakija and her family owned 60 percent.

The Ventures Africa report also claimed that Alakija has a real estate portfolio worth over $100 million. Earlier this year, Nigerian and British media announced that Alakija acquired a property at One Hyde Park for $102 million.

She owns a Bombardier Global Express 6000 which she bought earlier this year for a reported $46 million. She is the founder of the Rose of Sharon foundation, a Christian-based charity which gives out small grants to widows.

Alakija is married to Modupe Alakija and they have four grown-up sons together. She also has a grandchild from her first son. Modupe Alakija, her husband is the Chairman of Famfa Oil. Her sons run the company.

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Conclusion

The richest women in the world all have interesting backgrounds. Some are part of a long line of wealthy business owners and have had wealth passed on to them from generation to generation. Others inherited the money from their late husbands. Many of these women have chosen to do noble things with their money, like give to charity. Some of these women have seen their fortunes dwindle because of the decrease in value of their companies, or fighting with relatives over inheritances.