$725 million

SOURCE: Software AGE: 71 • RESIDENCE: Carpinteria, CA SELF-MADE SCORE:  Lopker founded software company QAD Inc. in 1979. She debuted on The Forbes 400 list 25 years ago as America’s richest self-made woman. A year later, she took her company public and soon fell out of the ranking. Since September 2020, QAD shares have doubled in value, and in June, private equity firm Thoma Bravo announced plans to acquire QAD for $2 billion, a 10% premium to its value.