Daughter Heirs-Apparent of Mega Moguls

Photo: Jeff Kravitz | FilmMagic, Inc | Getty Images In today’s world, daughters are just as likely as sons to be the heir-apparent to the family business. From North America to Europe to Asia, there’s a generation of heir apparents with the skills and experience to run some of the world’s most high-profile firms. All of these women could probably make it without help from ‘Daddy.’ They’re smart and savvy, have earned world-class degrees, and are business leaders in their own right. More important, they have a major stake in the family business, so they’re primed to take over if and when the time comes. Click ahead to see some of them — in alphabetical order — and how they’re preparing to take the helm. By Jennifer Leigh ParkerPosted 10 October 2011

Photo: Eric Ryan | Getty Images Residence: France Education: London School of Economics Company: LVMH - Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Current CEO: Bernard Arnault Bernard Arnault’s daughter, Delphine Arnault-Gancia, became the first female board member of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH at age 28. Since then, she’s built up some serious street cred: After working at McKinsey and managing product lines for Christian Dior, she’s now executive officer of Italian luxury goods company Emilio Pucci S.r.L, and Director of LMVH. High-end extravagance for this now-famous female executive goes beyond the boardroom. Guests at Arnault’s wedding to Alessandro Vallarino included designer Karl Lagerfeld, former French first lady Bernadette Chirac and president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Photo: Getty Images Residence: New York City Education: Brooklyn’s Poly Prep Company: Coalco International Current CEO: Vassily Anisimov Russian millionaire Vassiy Anisimov started a Moscow-based real estate company, Coalco, and gave his daughter Anna a job in its New York division. She showed a talent for real estate wheeling and dealing, famously orchestrating a $23 million deal for Diane Von Furstenberg's New York headquarters in 2005. This future real estate mogul rents an apartment in Manhattan’s Time Warner Center for $15 million, and is known as New York’s first Russian-American princess.

Photo: Getty Images Residence: Italy Education: University of Milan Company: Fininvest Group Current Owner: Silvio Berlusconi Daughter of three-time Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Marina left her studies at the University of Milan before obtaining her degree in order to work at media holding company Fininvest Group, established by her father. She is currently Chairman of Finivest, which includes interests in a major commercial TV operator, a movie production company and soccer team A.C. Milan.

Photo: Bloomberg | Getty Images Residence: London Education: Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania Company: Santander Group Current CEO: Emilio Botin Ana Patricia Botin worked for seven years at JPMorgan before joining the family business in 1988. She took over as CEO of Santander UK, the second largest unit of financial services behemoth Santander Group of Spain in December 2010. She is U.S.-educated, speaks five languages, and descends from one of Spain's most prominent families. Her career in London is considered an indication that she will soon lead parent company Santander, where she has been a longtime board member.

Photo: Indigo | Getty Images Residence: London Education: University College London Company: Virgin Group Current CEO: Richard Branson Sir Richard Branson’s daughter is the odds-on favorite for the future face of Virgin — one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous brands on the planet. Her father, billionaire Sir Richard Branson, is chairman of the Virgin Group (VMED).In line to inherit a large slice of her father’s fortune, Holly Branson has decided to put her medical degree from University College London aside to join the Virgin empire.

Photo: Mark Von Holden | WireImage | Getty Images Residence: Los Angeles Education: Parsons School of Design Company: Hilton & Hyland Current CEO: Richard Hilton While most have heard of Paris Hilton, her sister Nicky is the one showing a flare for business. She has launched two clothing lines, and is well known among the fashion elite worldwide. Nicky’s business sense may lead her to inherit the family firm. Her father, Rick Hilton, is chairman and co-founder of Hilton & Hyland, a Beverly Hills real estate firm that caters only to people who can afford the most extravagant properties in the 90210 zip code. He, too, is the progeny of a tycoon – founder of Hilton Hotels chain, Conrad Hilton.

Photo: Mike Clarke | AFP | Getty Images Residence: Hong Kong Education: Santa Clara University Company: Shun Tak Group Current CEO: Stanley Ho Pansy Ho, equipped with a degree in marketing and business, is already the managing director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited (SHTGF), a conglomerate invested in shipping, property and hospitality sectors. It was founded by her billionaire father, Stanley Ho. Ho has held a monopoly on the gambling industry in the Chinese region of Macau for four decades, earning the nickname “The King of Gambling” and making him one of the wealthiest men in Asia.

Residence: New York City Education: Duke University Company: Ralph Lauren Corp Current CEO: Ralph Lauren Daughter of a self-made man and world-class designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren has her father’s knack for business. She founded Dylan's Candy Bar, a U.S.-based chain known for "merging fashion and pop candy culture." She plans to expand internationally — a venture that may well prepare her to join Ralph Lauren Corp, (RL), worth over $13 billion.

Photo: Eric Ryan | Getty Images Residence: India Education: European Business School Company: ArcelorMittal Current CEO: Lakshmi Mittal One of the top ten richest men in the world, steel baron Lakshmi Mittal is the CEO of ArcelorMittal (AMSYF). His daughter Vanisha is a key player in the company, serving as a board member, and since 2004, a director at LNM Holdings (the holding company for the Mittal group). Apart from being known for having one of the most expensive weddings in history (her Paris celebration lasted a week and cost a cool $60 million), Vanisha attracts even more attention for the sheer size (up to $31 billion) of her likely inheritance. She may, however, have competition from her brother, Aditya Mittal.

Photo: Getty Images Residence: New York City Education: The Chapin School, NYC Company: The Trump Organization Current CEO: Donald Trump Ivanka Trump serves as Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at the Trump Organization – the real estate enterprise that made her famous father a billionaire. Ivanka may, however, need to jockey for position with brothers Donald Jr. and Eric, who have also taken positions alongside dad within The Trump Organization. So far, she’s winning on name recognition, thanks to her work as a runway model, a role on TV show “The Apprentice,” and the successful launch of her own line of designer shoes.

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