The Bettencourt Meyers family is widely recognized as the wealthiest family in France and one of the richest families in the world. Their fortune is inseparably linked to L’Oréal, the largest cosmetics company globally, whose brands shape beauty standards, consumer habits and marketing strategies across nearly every country.
The family’s wealth traces back to Eugène Schueller, a chemist who founded L’Oréal in 1909 after developing an innovative hair dye formula. What began as a small laboratory operation evolved into a multinational corporation by combining scientific research, aggressive branding and early international expansion. Schueller’s daughter, Liliane Bettencourt, became the central figure in preserving family control through the 20th century.
Today, L’Oréal owns a vast portfolio of mass-market, professional, and luxury brands, including Maybelline, Lancôme, Garnier, Kiehl’s and Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. This diversification allows the company to dominate every price segment of the beauty market, insulating it from economic cycles and changing consumer trends.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and her sons now oversee the family’s stake, primarily through holding structures that ensure long-term control while cooperating closely with professional management. The family maintains a significant voting position, giving it strategic influence without interfering in daily operations.
The Bettencourt Meyers family is also known for its strong commitment to philanthropy, particularly in science, culture, and religious heritage. At the same time, their wealth has occasionally attracted controversy, especially during legal disputes and political scandals involving Liliane Bettencourt in her later years.
