Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is the biggest shareholder of Heineken, Europe's largest beer producer. The Amsterdam-based business has operations in more than 70 countries and sells about 300 drink brands, including Amstel, Tiger and Strongbow Apple Ciders. The company had revenue of 28.7 billion euros ($30.2 billion) in 2022.
The majority of de Carvalho-Heineken's fortune is derived from a 46.8% economic interest in Heineken Holding, a company created by her father to control Dutch beermaker Heineken. The Amsterdam-based business is Europe's largest brewer and has about 300 drink brands, according to its website.
The billionaire owns the shares through her family's 88.9% stake in L'Arche Green, a Dutch investment company with a 52.6% stake in Heineken Holding, according to the 2022 annual report. She's also has a 0.03% stake in the business, according to the annual report.
The value of her cash investments is based on an analysis of dividends, insider transactions, taxes and market performance.
Kees Jongsma, an external spokesperson for Heineken Holding, declined to comment on the net worth calculation.
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken was born in Amsterdam to Freddy Heineken and Lucille Cummins, in 1954. Her father had bought back the majority of his family's beer brewery during the 1940s, and created Heineken Holding to ensure ongoing family control in 1952. During his tenure as Heineken CEO and chairman, Freddy elevated the Amsterdam-based brewer from a local brand to the world's third-largest beer producer by focusing on brand marketing and growth through acquisitions.
Charlene started law school at Leiden University in 1972. She dropped out and moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where she received a bachelor's degree in French literature from the University of Geneva in 1975. She undertook a six-month apprenticeship at Heineken before marrying investment banker Michel de Carvalho in 1983.
The billionaire joined Heineken Holding's board in 1988, one year before her father stepped down as CEO and chairman of the brewer. Freddy died in 2002 and Charlene inherited Heineken Holding's majority stake in the company.
Charlene and her husband have five children and live in London and Switzerland.