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Forbes billionaires list: Meet the nine richest self-made women

Forbes has released its annual billionaires list, and nestled among the usual suspects were women who have made or helped make their own fortunes, in industries ranging from television to real estate to clothing. These are the nine richest self-made women on Forbes 2013 Billionaires List.  

4. Chan Laiwa

Matthias Rietschel/AP/File
Chan Laiwa, pictured, saw her net worth increase by $570 million last year.

Net worth: $4.1 billion 

Country: China 

Source of wealth: Real estate – Fu Wah International Group

Overall Forbes rank: #316

Ms. Chan founded Fu Wah International Group, one of Beijing’s largest real estate developers, in 1998. And she had a very good year in 2012: Due to commercial property value increases in Beijing, her net worth increased by $570 million last year. Born poor, she is considered one of only 19 truly self-made female billionaires in the world, in that she didn’t make her money alongside a spouse.  

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