L'Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers has become the first woman to accumulate a $100bn fortune, writes Jessica Clark.

The French businesswoman, 70, reached the milestone after shares in beauty giant L'Oréal - founded by her grandfather in 1909 - hit a record high.

A recent share price surge has taken Ms Bettencourt Meyer's wealth to around $100.2billion, according to Bloomberg's billionaire index published yesterday.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers, who is the richest woman in the world, inherited her wealth after the death of her mother Liliane Bettencourt in 2017.

It followed a huge legal battle which developed into a political scandal over whether her mother was able to manage the family's fortune.

A three-part Netflix documentary on the bitter public row was released last month.

The reclusive billionaire has reportedly written two books - one on the Bible and the other on Greek gods - and plays the piano for hours a day.

Paris-based L'Oréal suffered during the pandemic as consumers bought less make up and other beauty products during global lockdowns.

But sales have bounced back in the years since, which has pushed up the Garnier and Maybelline owner's share price.

Liliane Bettencourt and her daughter Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers attend the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute-Couture Spring / Summer 2012 show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Grand Palais on January 24, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/WireImage)

The company owns Lancome, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent. The 114-year-old beauty group's stock has surged 35% over the last year, adding around $28billion to Ms Bettencourt Meyer's personal wealth.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers and her family own a 35% stake in L'Oréal and she is vice-chair of the company's board. Her sons Jean- Victor Meyers and Nicholas Meyers are also directors.

Photo: Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers poses on August 5, 2010 in Paris. (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)