The world has 2,668 billionaires, according to Forbes’ calculation. They are collectively worth $12.7 trillion—$400 billion less than in 2021 due to the pandemic. America leads the world with the number of billionaires, totaling 735 billionaires worth a collective $4.7 trillion.
Of the 2,668 billionaires, there are only 15 Blacks, cutting across Africa, the U.S. and the Caribbean. Below is the list of Black billionaires in the world.
Aliko Dangote
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Profile: Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest person and also the richest Black man in the world.
Net worth: $14 billion
Source of Wealth: cement, sugar, Self Made
Citizenship: Nigeria
Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, Al-Azhar University
- Mike Adenuga
Profile: Adenuga, Nigeria’s second richest man, built his fortune in telecom and oil production.
Net worth: $7.3B
Source of wealth: telecom, oil, Self Made
Citizenship: Nigerian
Education: Master of Business Administration, Pace University.
Robert F. Smith
Profile: Robert F. Smith founded private equity firm Vista Equity Partners in 2000. It focuses exclusively on investing in software companies.
Net worth: $6.7B
Source of wealth: Private equity, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Education: Master of Business Administration, Columbia University; Bachelor of Arts/Science, Cornell University.
Abdulsamad Rabiu
Profile: Abdulsamad Rabiu is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate.
Net worth: $6.9B
Source of wealth: cement, sugar
Citizenship: Nigerian
David Steward
Profile: David Steward is the founder and chairman of IT provider World Wide Technology.
Net worth: $5.8B
Source of wealth: IT provider, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, Central Missouri State University.
- Patrice Motsepe
Profile: Patrice Motsepe, the founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, became a billionaire in 2008 – the first black African on the Forbes list.
Net worth: $3.3B
Source of wealth: mining, Self Made
Citizenship: South Africa
- Oprah Winfrey
Profile: Oprah Winfrey has transitioned her hit talk show, which ran for 25 years, into a media and business empire.
Net worth: $2.6 billion
Source of wealth: TV shows, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, Tennessee State University
Kanye West
Profile: Entrepreneur and musician Kanye West got a lucrative multi-year deal to design sneaker brand Yeezy for Adidas.
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: music, sneakers, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Education: Drop Out, Chicago State University
Rihanna
Profile: Rihanna, Barbados’ most famous export, is a billionaire thanks to the success of cosmetics line Fenty Beauty.
Net worth: $1.7 billion
Source of wealth: music, cosmetics, Self Made
Citizenship: Barbados
Michael Jordan
Profile: Regarded by most as the NBA’s greatest all-time player, Michael Jordan won six titles with the Chicago Bulls.
Net worth: $1.7 billion
Source of wealth: Charlotte Hornets, endorsements, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Michael Lee-Chin
Profile: Michael Lee-Chin made a fortune investing in financial companies like National Commercial Bank Jamaica and AIC Limited.
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: mutual funds, Self Made
Citizenship: Canada
Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, McMaster University
Strive Masiyiwa
Profile: Strive Masiyiwa overcame protracted government opposition to launch mobile phone network Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in his country of birth in 1998.
Net worth: $3 billion
Source of wealth: telecom, Self Made
Citizenship: Zimbabwe, Britain
Education: Bachelor of Engineering, University of Wales
Jay-Z
Profile: Even in a year without a tour or album release, Jay-Z mints millions from his Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Ussé cognac.
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Source of wealth: Multiple, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Tyler Perry
Profile: A director, actor, producer and writer, Tyler Perry is best known for his “Madea” franchise, which has grossed more than $660 million.
Net worth: $1 billion
Source of wealth: movies, television, Self Made
Citizenship: United States
Alex Karp
Profile: He is well-known as co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, an IT company specializing in big data.
Net worth: $1.1 billion
