Entrepreneurialism drives female wealth

Women in the UK are dramatically increasing their net worth, largely thanks to the greater role they are playing in business.

Research from Barclays Wealth indicates that business success is now the primary source of female wealth, ahead of inheritance, marriage and divorce.

Earnings and business ownership are followed by personal investments in the list of the greatest wealth creators for women in the UK. Marriage is the third biggest factor in female wealth, followed by inheritance and divorce.

Amy Nauiokas, managing director at Barclays Wealth, said: "While the more 'traditional' drivers of wealth still play a part, they are no longer the dominant forces they once were."

A glance at this year's Sunday Times Rich List reveals that 92 of the 1,000 individuals were female. While women were still in the minority, an increase from 81 in 2006 reveals that great progress has been made.

By 2020, women are expected to account for 53% of all millionaires in the UK, up from a current level of around 48%.

China's rich list is already topped by a woman. In 2006, recycling tycoon Zhang Yin pushed her personal fortune up to £1.8 billion, capsizing a traditionally male-dominated rich list.