Françoise Bettencourt Meyers - the heiress of the L'Oreal empire - is the richest woman in the world, with an estimated value of assets of 86 billion USD, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
However, they are nothing compared to Wu Zetian (ruling from 690-705), the only female emperor who ever ruled China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
With China's assets at that time, accounting for 23% of the global GDP, Wu Zetian deserves to be remembered as the richest woman in history, with some estimates suggesting she held assets worth 16,000 billion USD.
The SCMP points out 3 of the richest women in China over the past 5,000 years
Wu Zetian (624-705)
The story of Wu Zetian - the famous woman known for her cunning to reach the pinnacle of power - is no longer unfamiliar. The allure of Wu Zetian is not only because she was the only female emperor in Chinese history but also because of the fascinating mystery surrounding her legacy.
Wu Zetian was originally a concubine in the harem of Emperor Taizong of Tang, later becoming the second empress of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, and eventually becoming the emperor of the Wu Zhou dynasty, which interrupted the Tang Dynasty. She was the mother of two successive emperors, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang and Emperor Ruizong of Tang.
Along with her title of Heavenly Empress and the title of Heavenly Emperor of Emperor Gaozong, the two jointly ruled the Tang Dynasty for a long time and were collectively referred to as the Two Saints.
After Emperor Gaozong's death, the heavenly empress went through the reigns of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong as empress dowager, and eventually became the sole emperor of the Wu Zhou dynasty, which she founded and lasted from 690 to 705.
Wu Zetian controlled a vast amount of China's assets - estimated to be 23% of the global GDP at the time - during her reign, which is why she is often considered the richest woman in history.
Tong Aiying (1889-1973)
Tong Aiying was the eldest sister of one of the most famous families in China in the 20th century. Her sister Tong Kancheng married Sun Yat-sen, and her youngest sister, Tong Meiling, married Chiang Kai-shek.
Tong Aiying married Kong Xiangxi, the richest man in the Republic of China (1912-1949) when they got married. Kong Xiangxi became the Prime Minister of the Republic of China from 1938-1939.
After marrying Kong Xiangxi, Tong Aiying worked as a teacher and participated in social activities before establishing Sandai Company - a company that was extremely successful and helped Tong Aiying become incredibly wealthy.
During the war, the Tong sisters established an organization called Indusco, designed to protect the business interests of China during wartime, with Aiying being the most active in managing the group. However, she was also accused of war profiteering during World War 2.
Phu Hao (died around 1,200 BC)
If ancient Egypt has Pharaoh Tutankhamun, then China has Phu Hao - the queen of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) - who had a tomb filled with treasures when she died.
Like Wu Zetian, Phu Hao consolidated a tremendous amount of power in her role as queen, including commanding large armies, practicing martial arts, and conducting important rituals such as ancestor worship and human sacrifice.
When she died at the age of 33, Phu Hao was buried with 16 human sacrifices and 6 dogs.
The tomb of Phu Hao contains 755 jade items, 564 bone items (such as hairpins), 468 bronze items, including vases and weapons, 63 stone items, 11 ceramic models, 5 ivory carvings, and 6,900 shells - used as currency during the Shang Dynasty.
