31 women make self-made billionaires list

Self-made billionaire women list is larger than ever

What you probably already know: Forbes released its annual list of America’s richest self-made women, which includes some familiar faces and some newcomers. Oprah Winfrey, whose net worth is approximately $3 billion, is No. 14 on the list, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg is No. 16 with a net worth of $2.1 billion, and celebrity Kim Kardashian ranks No. 21 with $1.7 billion.

Why? The list now has 31 women, up from 24 last year and the most ever, and includes quite a few women like Kardashian and pop star Rihanna, who were able to translate celebrity into business success. Among that list, Taylor Swift has grabbed a spot at No. 24 with $1.3 billion.

What it means: Diane Hendricks, the chairman of ABC Supply, one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing and windows, tops the list with a net worth of $20.9 billion, which ranks her the No. 92 largest billionaire in the world. She co-founded the company in 1982 with her husband and has chaired it since his death in 2007. Forbes reports that this was a record-breaking year for the women on this list, with their wealth growing by nearly 25%, up $154 billion.

What happens now: Business savvy pop stars helped build out the list — Katy Perry was new this year — but other business leaders including Kendall-Jackson winery owner Barbara Banke, whiskey distiller and Uncle Nearest co-founder Fawn Weaver, HR software company Deel co-founder Shuo Wang and artificial intelligence executive Daniela Amodei show what can happen when women take the reins. And if you want to be really impressed, Wang and Amodei are both still in their mid-30s.