Georgina Rinehart - $17 billion

Georgina Rinehart is an Australian mining heiress and Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting. As daughter of Lang Hancock and Hope Margaret Nicholas, Rinehart is the richest billionaire in Australia and sixth-richest woman in the world. She recently purchased a stake in Fairfax Media, becoming the largest shareholder as well as buying a major share in the Ten Network Holdings.

Rinehart is currently in the process of finalizing a $7 billion debt package to develop one of the world’s largest iron ore mine, Roy Hill.