The Richest Woman in the World (French: La Femme la plus riche du monde) is a 2025 French-Belgian comedy-drama film directed by Thierry Klifa, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cédric Anger and Jacques Fieschi, loosely based on the Bettencourt affair. Starring Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Marina Foïs, and Raphaël Personnaz, it follows an heiress whose immense fortune shapes her relationships, public image, and emotional life.
The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May. It was theatrically released in France by Haut et Court on 29 October 2025.
Contents
Plot
The plot is loosely based on the Bettencourt affair, concerning the life of a wealthy L’Oréal heiress.
Marianne Farrère, heir to a major cosmetics empire and considered the richest woman in the world, meets Pierre‑Alain Fantin, a Parisian writer‑photographer, during a photoshoot. Their unexpected encounter develops into a close and ambiguous friendship that blends admiration, fascination, and tension. As Marianne navigates her immense wealth, she faces family secrets, shifting loyalties, and a series of increasingly high‑stakes emotional and financial entanglements.
Cast
Isabelle Huppert as Marianne Farrère
Laurent Lafitte as Pierre-Alain Fantin
Marina Foïs as Frédérique Spielman
Raphaël Personnaz as Jérôme Bonjean
André Marcon as Guy Farrère
Mathieu Demy as Jean-Marc Spielman
Joseph Olivennes as Raphaël d'Alloz
Micha Lescot as De Veray
Paul Beaurepaire as Charles Spielman
Production
The Richest Woman in the World was directed by Thierry Klifa, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cédric Anger and Jacques Fieschi.
Release
The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May. It was theatrically released in France by Haut et Court on 29 October 2025.
Reception
Box office
It grossed $7.3 million at the French box-office.
Critical response
Writing for Variety, Guy Lodge described the film as a sharply observed parable about wealth and influence, noting Huppert's commanding presence in the lead role and the film's mixture of social critique and dark humor.