Gwynne Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002 as its 11th employee. Today, as president and COO, she oversees operations at the commercial space exploration company. Shotwell is featured on Forbes Richest #SelfMadeWomen#. Read the full list: Photo: Angel Garcia via Bloomberg

Luana Lopes Lara is the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire and cofounder and COO of Kalshi, which reached an $11 billion valuation in December 2025. From MIT and Citadel Securities to professional ballet, her path stands out on Forbes Richest #SelfMadeWomen#. Get the full list: Photo: Alexander Karnyukhin for Forbes

Meet the self-made American who founded Forbes: The Scottish immigrant didn’t just want to write about entrepreneurs. He wanted to be one. So, he started Forbes in the middle of World War I, intent on showcasing the people behind the numbers. 📸: Forbes #Forbes250#