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• French billionaire Liliane Bettencourt, heir to the L'Oreal cosmetics fortune, is widely considered to be the wealthiest woman in the world. In 2008, Forbes magazine estimated Bettencourt's wealth at $22.9 billion.Forbes: #17 Liliane Bettencourt

  In December 2008, reports surfaced that Bettencourt had entrusted part of her fortune to alleged Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff. According to Bloomberg, Bettencourt invested the money through the hedge fund Access International Advisors, run by manager Rene Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet. On December 23, 2008, Villehuchet was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Manhattan office.Bloomberg.com: L'Oreal Heiress Bettencourt Invested With Madoff

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: October 21, 1922
  2. Birthplace: Paris, France
  3. Daughter of L'Oreal cosmetics company founder Eugene Schueller
  4. Married: Andre; Bettencourt; he died in November 2007
  5. One daughter: Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
  6. Reportedly invested part of her fortune with Bernard MadoffBloomberg.com: L'Oreal Heiress Bettencourt Invested With Madoff
  7. Bettencourt's money was invested through the hedge fund Access International AdvisorsBloomberg.com: L'Oreal Heiress Bettencourt Invested With Madoff
  8. The fund was managed by Rene Thierry Magon de la VillehuchetBloomberg.com: L'Oreal Heiress Bettencourt Invested With Madoff
  9. Villehuchet was found dead in his New York City office on December 23, 2008, of an apparent suicide
  10. Other high-profile figures who reportedly invested through Madoff include Steven Spielberg and Elie Wiesel

• Family Troubles

  Liliane Bettencourt's daughter, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, filed a lawsuit against photographer Francois-Marie Banier, claiming he was attempting to take advantage of her mother. Meyers claims Banier charmed her mother into giving him $1 billion worth of insurance money and paintings.Telegraph: L'Oreal heiress asks Sarkosy to halt inquiry... On December 21, 2008, Bettencourt said she would "never see her daughter again" as a result of Meyers' allegations.Times Online: ...L'Oreal heiress disowns daughter in cash dispute

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  L'Oreal | Bernard Madoff | Rene Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers | Ponzi Scheme | Shana Madoff | Meaghan Cheung | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Steven Spielberg | Elie Wiesel | Hedge Funds | Adolf Merckle | Brooke Astor | Estee Lauder | Danny Pang | How to Become a Billionaire

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