World's richest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, dies at 94

New York [U.S.A], Sept. 22 (ANI): Heiress of cosmetics giant L'Oreal Liliane Bettencourt, the world's richest woman, has died at the age of 94.

On Thursday, her daughter Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, 64, released a statement saying that her mother had passed away.

Bettencourt Meyers told the New York Times in an email statement, which read, "In this painful moment for us, I would like to reiterate, on behalf of our family, our entire commitment and loyalty to L'Oreal and to renew my confidence in its President Jean-Paul Agon and his teams worldwide."

Bettencourt, who had died at the age of 94, was the main shareholder in the world's top cosmetics company L'Oreal, with a personal fortune estimated by Forbes magazine in March at USD 39.5 billion.

Speaking about Liliane's death, L'Oreal chairman and chief executive Jean-Paul Agon expressed "great admiration" for the woman who steered the company as its owner for the best part of a decade.

Mr Agon said she "always looked" after the company and its employees and "she has personally contributed greatly to its success for many years".

Married to French Politician Andre Bettencourt from 1950 till his death in 2007, Lilian was a prominent part of French society and a revered businesswoman around the world. (ANI)