Self-made billionaire Diane Hendricks' journey from a dairy farm to America's richest woman

In 1982, Hendricks and her late husband started a company in Beloit, Wisconsin. She is now the chairwoman. The company, ABC Supply, made $20.4 billion last year and has over 900 branches. When she was 10, Hendricks decided she didn't want to be a farmer like her parents. She wanted to be independent and have a career in business. She got pregnant at 17 but still finished high school. This made her focus on her dream of being in business. The company reached $1 billion in sales in 1998. Hendricks faced controversies for buying and transforming historic buildings and businesses in her town. She spent millions on local projects to rebuild properties and bring in new businesses. This created jobs and improved the area. The youngest self-made women on Forbes' 2024 list show that success can come at a young age. Among them is Kylie Jenner, who started her own businesses and made a fortune. She is the youngest on the list for the seventh year in a row. The list also includes Lucy Guo, who cofounded an artificial intelligence firm, and Shuo Wang, who founded an HR software company. These women show that hard work and innovation can lead to success. The list features celebrities like Beyoncé, Madonna, and Ellen DeGeneres, who have made millions from their work in music, film, and TV. The threshold to make the list is high, with contenders needing to be worth at least $300 million. Kylie Jenner's wealth mostly comes from her cosmetics company, Kylie Cosmetics. She also has a stake in an artificial intelligence firm. The list includes stars who have made their fortunes through various industries. Most of them saw an increase in their net worth. Beyoncé's earnings from tours and music catalog contributed to her growing fortune. The list showcases successful women from different fields who have worked hard to achieve their wealth.