French billionaire Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L’Oréal fortune, has seen her wealth surge by $4.2 billion in a single day, bringing her total net worth to $93.8 billion and placing her 20th on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people as of July 31.
The sudden boost follows renewed optimism in the global beauty market and a strong rally in L’Oréal shares. Bettencourt Meyers, 71, is the granddaughter of company founder Eugène Schueller and, along with her family, owns over a third of the cosmetics giant.
She has served on L’Oréal’s board since 1997 but is set to step down later this year, closing out nearly 30 years as a key figure in the company’s leadership.
L’Oréal Sees Strong Market Momentum
The spike in her wealth reflects positive investor sentiment after JPMorgan upgraded L’Oréal’s stock rating from “Underweight” to “Neutral” and raised its price target to €360 from €290. The bank cited stronger-than-expected performance in the U.S. market and management’s forecast of 4% global beauty sector growth in 2025, with higher gains anticipated in the second half of the year.
According to InvestingPro, L’Oréal maintains a 74.2% gross profit margin and has a “GREAT” financial health score. The company has paid dividends for 34 consecutive years, with nearly 20% growth in the past 12 months. JPMorgan now projects second-half growth of 4.7%, though analysts caution that the stock still trades at a premium.
Despite JPMorgan’s optimism, Barclays downgraded the stock to “Underweight,” citing a slowdown in the brand’s market outperformance. Even so, RBC Capital Markets continues to back L’Oréal as one of its top picks in the consumer staples sector, alongside companies like AB InBev.
Strategic Expansion in Premium Skincare
In a move to strengthen its Luxe division, L’Oréal has announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Medik8, a British skincare brand praised for its scientific approach and affordable pricing. The acquisition is seen as part of L’Oréal’s strategy to capture more market share in the growing premium skincare space.
A Billionaire with a Broader Legacy
Bettencourt Meyers became the world’s richest woman in 2017 after the death of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt. In addition to her business interests, she serves as president of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, which funds projects in science, culture, and education.
Following the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire, her family and L’Oréal jointly pledged $226 million toward its restoration.
As she prepares to leave the L’Oréal boardroom, Bettencourt Meyers does so with her legacy firmly tied to the company’s continued global success and philanthropic influence.
Nairametric