Forbes unveiled its ranking of the richest women in the world in 2011 after keeping keen observation on their moves such as the deals they negotiate, their real estate transactions, their luxury purchases and the causes they give to.

The 20 richest women in the world accumulate more than $232 billion. One common trait in most of these women is that their wealth was inherited.

Here is a slide show of the world's 10 richest women in 2011

Christy Walton
Christy WaltonFortune: $26.5 billionForbes designated Christy Walton as the richest woman in the world once again after 2010. The widow of John Walton inherited her wealth of $15.5 billion after his death in an airplane accident in 2005. She is also the owner of Wal-Mart, which was founded by her father-in-law Sam Walton and the network has around 5100 stores. IBTimes
Liliane Bettencourt
Fortune: $24 B as of March 2012Liliane Bettencourt is the second richest women in the world. The 89-year-old is Europe’s richest woman who suffers from dementia. REUTERS
Alice Walton
Alice WaltonFortune:$21.2 billionShe is Christy Walton’s sister and works along with her at Wal-Mart. With Wal-Mart’s share rose up by 5percent, Alice collected roughly $420 million in dividends in 2010 and will rake in even more next year after the retailer raised its annual payouts by 20% starting this March. IBTimes
Iris Fontbona
Iris FontbonaFortune: $19.2 billionShe is the second wife, and now widow, of billionaire Andronico Luksic, who died of cancer in 2005. She inherited the wealth from her former husband. Currently she is dealing with family business, Antofagasta, one of the largest copper mines in the world, a brewery and a hotel chain in the Croatian resort Plava Laguna. IBTimes
Susanne Klatten
Susanne KlattenFortune: $14.6 billionShe is the daughter of Herbert Quandt, BMW savior, on the verge of bankruptcy in 1960. She is an economist with MBA and has also inherited a 50 percent stake in chemical manufacturer Altanta. IBTimes
Birgit Rausing
Fortune: $14 B as of March 2012Rausing is the fifth richest women. The 89-year-old inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval after her husband Gad Rausing died in 2000. In 1944 her father-in-law founded the company, which revolutionized the packaging of liquids such as juices and milk. IBTimes
Anne Cox Chambers
Anne Cox ChambersFortune: $13.4 billion IBTimes
4. Savitri Jindal Family
Source: steel Fortune Worth:$ 10.9 billion Age: 61 Global Rank: 80 IBTimes
Abigail Johnson
Abigail JohnsonFortune: $11.3 billion IBTimes
Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline MarsFortune:$ 10 billion IBTimes