Who are the richest self-made women billionaires in Europe in 2025?
- Valerie Charoux
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Billionaire News Europe - The richest self-made woman billionaire in the world in 2025 is European. Here is the ranking of the richest self-made women billionaires in Europe in 2025:
The 50 richest self-made men in the world are worth $3.8 trillion, that is 14 times more than the 50 richest self-made women in 2025. Self-made female billionaires represent 3.5% of all billionaires in 2025, that is about 50% more than in 2017, according to Forbes.
Here is the ranking of the Top 5 richest self-made women billionaires in Europe in 2025:
1 - Rafaela Aponte-Diamant - Switzerland
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the richest self-made woman billionaire in the world in 2025, and she is European.
Swiss billionaire Rafaela Aponte-Diamant has a net worth of around 33.756 billion euros and she is 80 years old.
How did the richest self-made woman billionaire in the world become rich?
The world's self-made richest woman is Swiss shipping magnate Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, with a net worth of $38.8 billion. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is also the richest self-made woman in the Europe in 2025 and she is from Switzerland. She became rich by founding shipping company called Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) with her husband.
The couple took a loan of USD 200,000 loan, which the couple used to finance their first ship. They were so successful that they expanded to a fleet of 17 ships within nine years. At 80, the richest self-made woman in the world still designs the MSC ships' interiors and serves on the board of the MSC Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. MSC is currently the world's largest shipping company, with over 136,000 employees, 900 ships, and 675 offices.
2 - Denise Coates – United Kingdom
The 2nd self-made richest woman in Europe is also the 5th self-made richest woman billionaire in the world.
British billionaire Denise Coates has a net worth of around 7.398 billion euros and she is 57 years old.
How did the 2nd richest self-made woman billionaire in Europe become rich?
UK billionaire Denise Coates is the founder, majority shareholder and joint chief executive of online gaming company bet365. Bet365.com was launched in 2001 as an online betting site by borrowing £15 million from RBS against the family's betting shop estate. In 2005, these shops were sold to Coral for £40 million, which allowed Coates to pay off the loan to RBS.
As of 2016, Bet365 is one of the world's largest online gambling companies, with $2 billion in revenues and facilitating $45 billion in yearly bets.
3 - Giuliana Benetton – Italy
The 3rd self-made richest woman in Europe is also the 29th self-made richest woman billionaire in the world.
Italian billionaire Giuliana Benetton has a net worth of around 3.133 billion euros and she is 87 years old.
How did the 3rd richest self-made woman billionaire in Europe become rich?
Italian billionaire Giuliana Benetton is one of the co-founders of Italian fashion brand Benetton Group.
Giuliana Benetton started Benetton Group with her three brothers by knitting sweaters that her brother Luciano delivered on his bicycle. Currently, the Benetton Group consists of a network of 6,000 stores in 120 countries, operated by independent partners, and generating a turnover of more than €2 billion a year.
4 - Maritsa Lazari & family – United Kingdom
The 4th self-made richest woman in Europe is also the 33rd self-made richest woman billionaire in the world.
British billionaire Maritsa Lazari has a net worth of around 2.784 billion euros and she is 80 years old.
How did the 4th richest self-made woman billionaire in Europe become rich?
British billionaire Maritsa Lazari was married to Cyprus-born British billionaire property developer Chris Lazari. Maritsa became the co-founder and director of property investment company, Lazari Investments, that owns a number of commercial and residential developments in London, including the Brunswick Centre.
5 - Anna Angelicoussis & family – Greece
The 5th self-made richest woman in Europe is also the 42nd self-made richest woman billionaire in the world.
Greek billionaire Anna Angelicoussis has a net worth of around 2.176 billion euros and she is 69 years old.
How did the 5th richest self-made woman billionaire in Europe become rich?
Greek billionaire Anna Angelicoussis co-founded Alpha Tankers & Freighters with her then-husband Christos Kanellakis in 2000. It was the start of her own shipping empire. She founded three major maritime firms: Alpha Bulkers, Pantheon Tankers that now controls over 30 oil tankers, and Alpha Gas that currently operates around over 5 liquefied natural gas carriers.
