How these black millionaires built their wealth outside of sports and entertainment

Jeff Badu

Born in Ghana, Badu moved to the United States when he was eight years old. Longing for acceptance and validation, he joined a gang for that badly yearned camaraderie. His course would again be changed after his friend was brutally shot five times in the head at a gas-filling station on the morning of October 28, 2014.

Shocked by that experience, the Uptown resident set out to be a serial entrepreneur who’s licensed CPA and founder of Badu Enterprises, LLC, a multinational conglomerate that owns several companies.

These include Badu Tax Services, LLC, a CPA firm that specializes in tax preparation, tax planning, and tax representation for individuals and businesses; and Badu Investments, LLC, which is primarily a real estate investment company.

Badu Investments, LLC acquires residential and commercial real estate properties in areas such as the South Side of Chicago in efforts to restore traditionally underserved areas.

Badu started his first business plan as an 18-year-old during his freshman year at the University of Illinois, where he has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the Gies College of Business. 

He became a millionaire last year at the age of 25 and wants to be a positive example for Chicago and for the world.