Tycoons' daughters work hard to inherit their billions

It used to be heiresses just lunched, shopped and partied. Don't tell the $20 billion babies on Forbes' list of the 20 Most Intriguing Billionaire Heiresses, who defy the stereotype of the bon-bon popping princess thanks to achievements in business, sports and the arts.

Though society and gossip columns track them like Hollywood starlets, these women distinguish themselves by exhibiting the tenacity and risk-taking that makes their parents the most powerful people on Earth. Not all are success stories--it may take a lifetime for these women to match their parents' legacies.

Russian lady Anna Anisimova, daughter of Russian metals mogul Vassily Anisimov ($2 billion), takes the 17th place in Forbes’ 20 Most Intriguing Billionaire Heiresses.

She is the paparazzi's favorite bicoastal It Girl of the moment. Her knockout looks help, but her dealmaking really generates the ink. In 2005 she debuted in Manhattan's clubby real estate scene, shelling out $23 million to buy Diane Von Furstenberg's downtown Manhattan headquarters. Most recently, the former model paid $15 million for her 4,000-square-foot pad in the new Time Warner Center.

Click here to read the full list of most intriguing billionaire heiresses

The following is top ten most successful business heiresses in the world

1. Vanisha Mittal Bhatia , India

Daughter of Lakshmi Mittal, $51 billion

Like her brother, the daughter of India's richest man is active in her father's company. A graduate of the European Business School, Vanisha sits on Mittal Steel's board of directors. In 2004, the London-based billionaire threw his daughter what is believed to be the most expensive wedding in history, a $60 million, week-long extravaganza for some 1,000 guests in Paris.

2. Delphine Arnault Gancia , France

Daughter of Bernard Arnault, $26 billion

The elegant daughter of the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury goods tycoon is a graduate of the London School of Economics. She worked at management consulting firm McKinsey before joining her father's company in 2000. Since then she's apprenticed at John Galliano and worked at Christian Dior and Loewe. She became the only woman on LVMH's board at age 28. In the fall of 2005, she married the heir to an Italian wine fortune in one of France's social events of the year.

3. Marta Ortega Perez , Spain

Daughter of Amancio Ortega, $24 billion

The low-key daughter of Spain's richest resident is being groomed by her father to take over his firm, fashion giant Inditex, which includes the 3,000 store Zara retail chain. This fall the passionate equestrian reportedly began working in one of the Bershka fashion stores, stocking shelves and assisting customers while learning the basics of running a mammoth fashion empire.

4. Georgina Bloomberg, USA

Daughter of Michael Bloomberg, $11.5 billion

The younger daughter of New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is an accomplished equestrian vying for a spot on the 2008Olympic team. She founded Rider's Closet, which collects used riding clothes and gear and donates it to intercollegiate riders.

5. Samantha Kluge, USA

Daughter of John Kluge, $9.5 billion

The sometimes wild child of communications mogul John Kluge, who once reigned as America's richest man, boasts 12 tattoos and two annulled marriages. The neo-socialite, a former style editor for Glamour magazine, now runs her own jewelry and accessories design firm in Los Ange les .

6. Amanda Hearst, USA

Daughter of Anne Hearst, niece of Patty Hearst, great granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, $8.7 billion (for entire Hearst clan on the Forbes 400)

Great-granddaughter of publishing legend William Randolph Hearst and niece of the famously kidnapped and brainwashed Patty Hearst, Amanda is a well-known New York socialite who was once featured in a Harper's Bazaar article detailing her annual maintenance cost of $136,360. (She says she was taken out of context.) The former model is now "global ambassador" for Tommy Hilfiger. This winter she graduates with an art history degree from Fordham University. The heiress is also a member of environmental nonprofit organization Riverkeeper.

7. Alannah Weston , Canada

Daughter of Galen Weston, $7.9 billion

The Irish-born daughter of Canada's second-richest man is the creative director of Selfridges, the British department store chain her father bought in 2003. British papers report that her training often included hopping behind the information desk at Selfridges to get a feel for her customers. This year she married the well-born British architect Alexander Cochrane.

8. Josie Ho Chiu Yi (AKA Josie Ho)

Daughter of Stanley Ho, $7 billion

The daughter of one of Hong Kong's richest men, casino kingpin Stanley Ho, is an indie singer and actress with several films and commercials to her credit. Her husband is Conroy Chan, lead singer of Hong Kong rock band Alive. The accessible heiress blogs on her Web site, JosieHo.com.

9. Hind Hariri , Lebanon

Daughter of Rafik Hariri, sister of the Hariri billionaire brothers, $5.5 billion

The youngest child of the slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is herself worth close to a billion dollars. (In 2006 she was briefly the youngest person listed on Forbes' World's Billionaires list with a personal fortune of $1.4 billion.) Hind, who graduated last year from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, campaigned for her brother Saad in his recent successful bid for a seat in Lebanon's Parliament.

10. Dylan Lauren, USA

Daughter of Ralph Lauren, $4.7 billion

The Duke University grad founded Dylan's Candy Bar, a high-end candy emporium with locations in Manhattan, Houston and Orlando, Fla. She says Dad was initially skeptical, arguing that only kids eat candy. The popular Manhattan flagship is now expanding to include a fondue bar and spa.

Source: Forbes

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Author`s name Alex Naumov
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