Cher Wang — HTC ($8.8 Billion Peak)

Cher Wang co-founded HTC in 1997, and at its peak in 2011, HTC had a $33.8 billion market cap—making it the most valuable smartphone company on Earth. Wang’s personal fortune hit $8.8 billion, ranking her as the richest self-made woman in Asia. She launched the first Android phone (T-Mobile G1 in 2008) and the first commercial 4G phone, which is 15% faster than the average smartphone debut of that era. Despite a 95% market cap crash after Samsung and Apple crushed HTC, Wang pivoted to VR with HTC Vive, retaining a net worth that outperforms #10 Sophia Amoruso’s post-bankruptcy standing. Wang’s legacy is being first—in Android and 4G—while fighting back from a brutal industry war.