The Richest Woman in the World
| The Richest Woman in the World | |
|---|---|
| French | La Femme la plus riche du monde |
| Directed by | Thierry Klifa |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | Mathias Rubin |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Hichame Alaouie |
| Edited by | Chantal Hymans |
| Music by | Alex Beaupain |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Haut et Court (France) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 123 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages | |
| Box office | $7.3 million |
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.
Plot
The plot is loosely based on the Bettencourt affair,[1] concerning the life of a wealthy L’Oréal heiress.[2][3]
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.[1]
Release
The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6]
References
- 1 2 Morain, Thomas (28 October 2025). "« La Femme la plus riche du monde » : le duo comique flamboyant d'Isabelle Huppert et Laurent Lafitte". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ Grierson, Tim. "'The Richest Woman In The World' review: Isabelle Huppert drama plays on a notorious real life L'Oréal heir". Screen. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ Kiang, Jessica (20 May 2025). "'The Richest Woman in the World' Review: Isabelle Huppert Stars in a Billionaire-Dynasty Drama That Fails to Scratch the 'Succession' Itch". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "La Femme la plus riche du monde / The Richest Woman in the World, from Thierry Klifa: a familial tragedy of power, secrets and vengeance". Festival de Cannes. Festival de Cannes. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "The Richest Woman in the World". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ Lodge, Guy (2025). "'The Richest Woman in the World' Review: Isabelle Huppert in a Satirical Wealth Parable". Variety. Retrieved 18 February 2026.