From the richest black man in history to the richest black woman in America, some of the wealthiest people in history have been black. From entertainers in Hollywood to politicians in Nigeria, from African Americans to British Africans to Jamaican Canadians and almost everything in between, against incredible adversity they have managed to prevail and build their fortunes. These are the 25 Richest Black People in the World!
Magic Johnson
Source: businessinsider.comA former NBA player, Magic’s net worth is an estimated $500 million.
Jay-Z
Source: businessinsider.comA record producer, singer, rapper, and entrepreneur, Jay-Z’s net worth comes in at $475 million.
Mariah Carey
Source: forbes.comThe popular musician and businesswoman has an estimated net worth of $510 million.
Michael Jordan
Source: forbes.comAt just over $1 billion, the former NBA player has recently joined the billionaires club.
Oprah Winfrey
Source: forbes.comThe well known American media mogul commands a fortune of roughly $4 billion.
Tiger Woods
Source: forbes.comAs one of the most famous golfers in the world, Tiger’s worth is estimated around $590 million.
Folorunso Alakija
Source: forbes.comA Nigerian businesswoman, in 2014 Folorunso briefly unseated Oprah as the richest black woman in the world. Her net worth is currently estimated to be around $2.5 billion.
Mike Adenuga
Source: forbes.comOften considered the second richest person in Nigeria, Mike Adenuga owns Globacom, Nigeria’s second largest telecom operator. His worth is estimated around $4.6 billion.
Robert F. Smith
Source: forbes.comA former chemical engineer and investor, Robert is now a businessman and philanthropist. With $3 billion, he is one of the richest black men in the United States.
Sheila Johnson
Source: businessinsider.comA well known American businesswoman and TV producer, Sheila’s net worth comes in at around $400 million.
Abdulsamad Rabiu
Source: forbes.comThe chairman of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry, Abdulsamad is worth about $1.2 billion.
Patrice Motsepe
Source: forbes.comConsidered the richest man in South Africa, Patrice is a mining magnate and founder of African Rainbow Minerals. His net worth is around $2.4 billion.
Sean Combs
Source: forbes.comPuff Daddy’s net worth is estimated around $620 million.
Robert L. Johnson
Source: forbes.comAn African American media magnate, Robert is the founder of BET. His fortune is estimated around $1 billion.
Tyler Perry
Source: businessinsider.comAn accomplished director, Tyler Perry’s net worth is about $400 million.
Mohammed Ibrahim
Source: forbes.comA British billionaire of Sudanese-Nubian ancestry, “Mo” has an estimated net worth of just over $1 billion.
Byaruhanga Kimberly Junior
Source: forbes.comAt $2 billion, Byaruhanga is one of South Africa’s richest businesspeople.
Femi Otedola
Source: forbes.comA Nigerian petroleum executive, Femi is one of the richest men in Africa with a wealth of just over $1 billion.
Isabel dos Santos
Source: forbes.comAn Angolan businesswoman, at $2 billion Isabel has been considered to be the richest woman in Africa.
Shaquille O'Neal
Source: businessinsider.comAn NBA player, entrepreneur, and producer, Shaq’s net worth weighs in at about $350 million.
Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi
Source: forbes.comThe Saudi-Ethiopian businessman has a net worth of around $10 billion.
Dr. Dre
Source: businessinsider.comAs a record producer and entrepreneur, Dr. Dre has amassed a $350 million fortune.
Michael Lee-Chin
Source: forbes.comOne of the richest people in Canada, Michael is of Jamaican and Chinese heritage. His net worth is just over $1 billion.
Master P
Source: businessinsider.comAnother former basketball player, Master P made his fortune in business and investing. His net worth is about $350 million.
Aliko Dangote
Source: forbes.comThe Nigerian business tycoon is often considered one of the wealthiest people in Africa. His net worth is currently estimated around $15 billion.
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Photos: Feature Image: Keith Allison, Tiger Woods drives by Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, 25. wikimedia commons (public domain), 24. Mikamote, Jay-Z-02-mika, CC BY-SA 3.0, 23. pixabay (public domain), 22. wikimedia commons (public domain), 21. Bill Ebbesen, Oprah Winfrey in Strøget, Denmark on 30 September 2009, CC BY 3.0, 20. Keith Allison, Tiger Woods drives by Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, 19. youthvilliagenigeria (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 18. newsofthepeople-ng.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 17. dealbook.nytimes.com (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 16. David Shankbone, Sheila Johnson at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, CC BY 3.0, 15. Abdulsamad Rabiu via twitter, 14. GovernmentZA via flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0, 13. Freelance photographer Richard Burdett (Website), ETalk2008-Diddy1, CC BY 3.0, 12-11. wikimedia commons (public domain), 10. InYaRowanda.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 9. linkedin, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 8. venturesafrica.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 7. answersafrica.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 6. Keith Allison, Shaquille O’Neal1, CC BY-SA 2.0, 5. alchetron.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 4. Jason Persse via flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, 3. Caribbeancommunitylive.com, (fair use; no free images available;illustrative purposes only), 2. Mikamote, Master p-02, CC BY-SA 3.0, 1. Saba Dubai, Al Shabani at the acquisition of Dangote Cement by ICD in 2014, CC BY 3.0
