THE WORLD'S RICHEST WOMEN: THE BILLIONAIRES

Photos from L to R: #1.Abigail Johnson, #2.  Nina Wang.

#4. Abby Johnson. At first blush, you might think Abigail "Abby" Johnson's employment with Fidelity Investments reeks of nepotism. Then you realize that Johnson, daughter of Chairman Edward "Ned" Johnson, has been a standout at the company since she started full time in 1988 as fund manager for the Fidelity Select Industrial Equipment portfolio. She managed several funds over the next 12 years; then came the big bump. On May 21, 2001, Fidelity named Johnson, 40, president of Fidelity Management and Research, which gives her oversight over all of Fidelity's portfolio managers, analysts and traders, along with $1 trillion in assets. She is without a doubt the most powerful woman in American finance. Rumors swirl that she will succeed her 71-year-old father, who has not yet hinted at a retirement timetable. Fidelity has no mandatory retirement age. But her chances of becoming Fidelity's next chief executive are as good as the sun coming up tomorrow. #5. Nina Wang. No one can say that tiny Nina doesn't think big.

Late last year she tried to construct the world's tallest building, the Nina Tower, but the project was squashed because of its proximity to a local airport. Wang runs Chinachem, a Hong Kong-based real estate company she inherited when her husband Teddy was kidnapped in 1990. Teddy has never been found, but his father finally declared him dead in 1999, over the strenuous objections of Nina. Now that he's officially dead, the senior Wang, 90, is fighting his daughter-in-law for control of Chinachem, alleging that she forged a will that left her everything. Handwriting experts have determined that the will is genuine. Wang has launched a few zingers herself, including allegations that her father-in-law has a mistress and uses opium. The two continue to battle it out in court. Meanwhile Wang, worth $3.7 billion, has expanded privately held Chinachem's business far beyond real estate to biotechnology and satellite systems. She's the richest woman in Asia but reportedly isn't interested in the social scene. Instead, she wears her hair in Pippi.

#4 in the world, Walton, Alice L. 54 , inherited. Source: Wal-Mart. Net Worth: $20.5 billions. Hometown: Fort Worth , TX. Marital Status: divorced , 2 divorces. Undergraduate: Trinity University of San Antonio, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Daughter of Sam Walton (d. 1992), who opened his first general store in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Wal-Mart now world's largest retailer: 4,000-plus stores around the globe. Family controls 38% of Wal-Mart, but prefers a passive role; Alice raises horses on Texas ranch. Family last year donated $750 million-plus, much to education, including $300 million to U. of Arkansas. But family largesse not enough to quell accusations that Wal-Mart wields too much clout. If Sam were alive today, he would be worth twice as much as Bill Gates.

#6 in the world, Walton, Helen R, 84 , (Photo, left),  inherited. Source:  Wal-Mart. Net Worth: $20.5 billions. Hometown: Bentonville , AR. Marital Status: widowed , 4 children. Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma, Bachelor of Arts / Science. Widow of Sam Walton (d. 1992), who opened his first general store in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Wal-Mart now world's largest retailer: 4,000-plus stores around the globe. Family controls 38% of Wal-Mart, but prefers a passive role. Family last year donated $750 million-plus, much to education, including $300 million to U. of Arkansas. But family largesse not enough to quell accusations that Wal-Mart wields too much clout. If Sam were alive today, he would be worth twice as much as Bill Gates.

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