America’s 10 Most Successful Businesswomen

Women nowadays are conquering the entrepreneurial world and leading different industries. From Madam C.J. Walker became the first women entrepreneur in 1905 to nearly 13 million women entrepreneurs in the US now, women have come a long way. Women entrepreneurs had to withstand different challenges and fight male dominance to create space for their businesses. Today, women-owned businesses are generating more than $1 trillion in the US. Many women were laid off during the COVID-19 crisis, and the only silver lining of it was that it encouraged them to pursue their passion. Following their passion, many women made it big in the entrepreneurial world. Let us acknowledge and learn about the ten most successful businesswomen in America.

Elaine Wynn

Elaine Wynn is one of the most influential American businesswomen. She co-founded Mirage Resorts in 1976 and Wynn Resorts in 2000 with her former husband, Steve Wynn. She completed her degree in Political Science and has been actively supporting educational causes. Wynn also serves on the board of trustees of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation. Besides this, she served on the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in 2011. Her knowledge and wisdom helped her expand the company and its operations. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s board of trustees and has been making an immense contribution to the growth of the museum. From being born and brought up in a middle-class family to leading a billionaire company, her journey is filled with stories of passion, acts of enthusiasm, and anecdotes of business wit.

Judith R. Faulkner

Judith R. Faulkner is the CEO and founder of America’s largest healthcare company, Epic Systems. The name of the company was Human Services Company back in 1979. Epic Systems is one of the largest organizations in America, responsible for maintaining the electronic medical records of millions of patients. Judith co-founded the company with Dr. John Greist and ran the entire company with investments collected from friends and family. They faced challenges and could not get investment from venture capitalists or any other source. Judith was featured in Forbes’ list of America’s Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018 and was even recognized as ‘The Most Powerful Female in Healthcare Sector’ by Forbes. She and her family hold a total of 43% stake in the organization.

Janice Bryant Howroyd

Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of ActOne Group, the first black-led female organization with an annual revenue generation of more than $1 billion. Besides being an entrepreneur, she is an educator, mentor, author, and ambassador. The group is an employment agency and consultancy company based in Los Angeles, with more than 17,000 clients from 19 countries. The company came into existence in 1978 and has been setting examples since then. Janice was featured on Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women in 2020. She is an avid writer and loves to share her advice and suggestions to conquer the business world through her books. She also owns different commercial and residential properties along with her family. Janice started the company with $1500 (including a $900 loan from her mother), a fax machine, and a printer.

Oprah Winfrey

Another name on our list of America’s ten most successful businesswomen is the media mogul Oprah Winfrey. She is an American talk show host and television producer turned entrepreneur. She co-founded Oxygen Media, a cable television network for women, and created her own talk show Oprah Winfrey Network. According to Forbes, her net worth is more than $2.6 billion, and has even purchased equity in Weight Watchers International in 2015. She has also been serving as a spokesperson for the popular subscription weight loss program.

Doris F. Fisher

Doris F. Fisher is the co-founder of The Gap Clothing Stores. She co-founded the company with her husband in 1969. The inspiration for the company came when the couple struggled to find the perfect fit for jeans. Her net worth is more than $2.4 billion and has successfully created a space for herself in Forbes’ list of 100 Most Powerful Women. Currently, her sons have taken over and are looking after the business operations. The Gap has become a multi-billion brand with numerous stores in more than 14 countries across the world.

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington is a Greek American author who co-founded the news website The Huffington Post in 2005. She stepped down from the company and co-founded Thrive Global in 2016, which provides behavioral change technological solutions. The company is trusted by millions of organizations and has helped more than 125 companies in more than 140 countries. The health and wellness startup has risen to become a $120 million company. She was even featured on the world’s 100 most influential people list by Time Magazine.

Tory Burch

Tory Burch launched the clothing and fashion brand with her name in 2004. It is a mid-fashion luxury brand with various styles that inspire people to live with power and confidence. The company now generates more than $1.5 billion in sales annually. Tory also launched The Tory Burch Foundation, where she aims to help fellow female entrepreneurs. Her foundation provides mentorship, digital resources, and guidance to budding female entrepreneurs. She was also listed in Forbes’ list of most powerful women in the world in 2020.

Marian Ilitch

Marian Ilitch and her husband co-founded Little Caesars Pizza in 1959. The company is now the third-largest pizza chain in the country. Apart from the pizza chain, Ilitch is leading in various sectors, including sports and entertainment. She also holds shares in her other organizations, including Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Olympia Development, Champion Foods, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and several other food services and entertainment venues. The Working Woman Magazine ranked her as the number one businesswoman in the country. As per Bloomberg, she was one of the world’s seven richest women in 2018.

Lynda Resnick

Lynda Resnick co-founded The Wonderful Company along with her husband. She had the entrepreneurship spirit from a very young age and started an advertising agency at the age of 19. The Wonderful Company is a private corporation with more than $4 billion in revenue. She and her husband own various other brands, including POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Fiji Water, and Wonderful Halos. She also launched a female-focused luxury wine brand, JNSQ, in 2019 and was honored as a life trustee at Los Angeles County Museums of Art. Lynda Resnick ranked seventh in America’s Self-Made Women according to Forbes in 2022.   

Johnelle Hunt

The 83-year-old Johnelle Hunt is the co-founder of J.B. Hunt Transport Services. It is one of the largest publicly owned trucking companies based in the United States. Johnelle dropped out of the University of Central Arkansas and founded the company in 1961 with her husband, Johnnie Bryan Hunt. Currently, her sons serve on the Board of Directors and assist her with the operations of the company. Her net worth is more than $3.5 billion, and she serves as the right inspiration for females in the transport industry. Arkansas’ Women's Hall of Fame even honored Johnelle for her accomplishments in 2015.

These are the ten most successful businesswomen in America. Many more women are conquering the business world against all odds. Take inspiration from these powerful ladies and build your own path in the entrepreneurship sector.