The Richest Woman in the World

'The Richest Woman in the World' is a Franco-Belgian comedy directed by Thierry Klifa and premiered in France in 2025. It is a loose adaptation of the Banier-Bettencourt case, which pitted millionaire Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers against photographer François-Marie Barnier in 2016.

In the film, Marianne Farrère, after inheriting a cosmetics company, becomes the richest woman in the world. During a session with photographer Pierre-Alain Fantin, she becomes captivated by his behavior, which temporarily pulls her away from the superficial world she inhabits. An unexpected friendship begins to develop between them that, for Marianne, comes at a cost: the continuous demands for money that the photographer makes to finance his work or the workshop where he lives with his lover.

Marianne's daughter, Frédérique, tries to put a stop to the abuse that Pierre-Alain exerts over her mother, especially regarding her uncontrollable spending on him. Ultimately, she ends up suing the photographer in court.

'The Richest Woman in the World' features the renowned actress Isabelle Huppert in the role of Marianne. Laurent Lafitte plays Pierre-Alain and Marina Foïs portrays Frédérique. The rest of the cast includes, among others, Raphaël Personnaz, André Marcon, Mathieu Demy, Joseph Olivennes, and Micha Lescot. The film receives notable acclaim from critics and is nominated for 6 César Awards 2026, winning one: Best Actor for Laurent Lafitte.