Women Who Married Famous Rich Men But Carved An Identity Of Their Own

Women don't need men to be their providers and we have so many strong and accomplished examples in our society to prove just that. Gone are the times when marrying a rich and successful man, who could provide for their needs was the only ambition in a woman's life. They were taught to be 'ideal' wives and serve their husbands well- do your duties and leave the rest to him. But why must women let their identities be defined by men in their lives?

Over the past few decades, we have seen many women who married rich and famous men but that didn't deter them from pursuing their own ambitions. Being surrounded by wealth and luxury wasn't enough for them. As a result, we know these women as philanthropists, writes, entrepreneurs, actors etc., not just as an affluent man's better half.

These women married to famous rich men teach us how important individuality is:

Melinda French Gates

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist and ex-general manager of Microsoft. She is the co-founder of the charity Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along with her former husband Bill Gates. While the two got divorced in 2021, however, she remains the co-chair of the foundation. She has been constantly named among the world's most powerful women.

Mackenzie Scott

American novelist Mackenzie Scott was married to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, until 2019. She is known for her philanthropy and involvement in Amazon as Scott owns four percent stakes in the company. She was ranked as one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes in 2021, and Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2020. Mackenzie Scott received the American Book Award for her debut novel The Testing of Luther Albright in 2005. Scott remarried to Dan Jewett in 2021.

MacKenzie Scott

Amal Clooney

Lebanese-British barrister Amal Clooney is an expert in international law and human rights. She is the wife of famous Hollywood actor George Clooney. Her clients include former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and she has also advocated for the country for Armenia to gain recognition of the Armenian genocide. Amal Clooney is the co-founder of Clooney Foundation for Justice along with her husband.

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Nita Mukesh Ambani

Indian philanthropist Nita Mukesh Ambani is the chairperson and founder of  Reliance Foundation, Dhirubhai Ambani International School and a director of Reliance Industries. She is married to business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and is also the owner of Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians. In 2016, she was ranked among the world's most powerful women by Forbes for her role in the Reliance business empire.

Nita Ambani

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek is a Mexican-American actor who is known for her work in films like Frida, the biographical drama about artist Frida Kahlo. She is the first female Mexican actor to be nominate for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film. Some other memorable films of Hayek are Desperado, Wild Wild West, and The Hitman's Bodyguard. She is among Hollywood's most powerful and influential Latina actors. Salma Hayek is married to business magnate François-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering and President of Groupe Artémis.

Salma Hayek. Image Credit: AFP