Mansa Musa, emperor of the Mali Empire, is widely regarded as the richest man in history. He was exceptionally wealthy to an extent that historians have struggled to quantify it accurately.
Though the exact date of his birth remains unknown, historical records suggest that he was a young man in 1324. It is believed that he was likely in his early twenties when he ascended to the throne as Mansa—a title signifying a ruler or king.
Musa’s path to power in the early 1300s remains somewhat unclear. According to his own account, his predecessor, presumed to be Muhammad ibn Qu, launched two ambitious expeditions to explore the Atlantic Ocean. The first consisted of 200 ships, while the second, led personally by the Mansa, had an astonishing 2,000 ships. Before departing, he appointed Musa as his deputy to oversee the empire. When the Mansa failed to return, Musa was crowned, marking a shift in succession from the lineage of Sunjata to that of his brother, Abu Bakr.
However, some modern historians challenge this narrative, suggesting that Musa may have deposed his predecessor and crafted the story of the ill-fated voyage to justify his rise to power.
Regardless of the circumstances, his reign is remembered as the height of Mali’s influence and prosperity.
READ ALSO: 7 influential traditional rulers in West Africa you should know
According to ancient manuscripts and accounts from travelers, Mansa Musa’s wealth stemmed primarily from the Mali Empire’s control over the lucrative trade in salt from the northern regions and, most notably, gold from the mines of Bambuk and Bure in the south. Over centuries, Mali accumulated vast gold reserves. Additionally, the empire engaged in the trade of ivory, slaves, spices, silks, and ceramics.
When he assumed power, the empire encompassed much of the former Ghana Empire and expanded across present-day Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, the Gambia, and modern Mali.
As a devout Muslim, Mansa Musa dedicated significant time to preparing for his pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) early in his reign. This pilgrimage, undertaken between 1324 and 1325, catapulted him to global fame.
During his absence, his son Muhammad was entrusted with ruling the empire. Reports indicate that he embarked on the journey with a staggering 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves, each adorned in brocade and Yemeni silk and carrying 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of gold bars.
Musa personally ensured the well-being of his caravan, which included 80 camels, each carrying between 50 and 300 pounds (23–136 kg) of gold dust. His generosity was legendary—he distributed gold to the poor, gifted cities along his route (including Cairo and Medina), and traded gold for souvenirs. It is said that he commissioned the construction of a mosque every Friday during his travels.
Arab historian Shihab al-Din al-‘Umari, who visited Cairo shortly after Musa’s pilgrimage, described it as an unparalleled display of wealth and power.
Musa and his entourage arrived at the outskirts of Cairo in July 1324 and camped near the Pyramids of Giza before crossing the Nile into the city on July 19. He stayed for three months before departing for Mecca on October 18.
Before leaving, his extravagant generosity left a lasting impact. His lavish distribution of gold flooded the Cairo market, causing its value to plummet and leading to economic instability that lasted nearly a decade.
READ ALSO: How Mali and Mansa Musa Drove the World’s Intellectual Revival
His generosity extended beyond Cairo—he gifted gold to fellow pilgrims and residents of Medina and Mecca.
Musa’s leadership was also tested in Mecca when a conflict erupted between a group of Malian pilgrims and a faction of Turkic pilgrims in the Masjid al-Haram. As tensions escalated and swords were drawn, Musa intervened, persuading his men to stand down, showcasing his diplomatic prowess.
On the return trip, Musa’s caravan encountered severe hardships. Traveling separately from the main group, many Malian pilgrims succumbed to cold, starvation, or bandit attacks before reaching Suez. The caravan lost much of its supplies and ran out of money, forcing Musa to borrow funds and sell goods he had previously acquired in Cairo. As a result, he went into debt to merchants such as Siraj al-Din. However, Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad reciprocated Musa’s earlier generosity by offering him gifts.
Upon his return to Mali, Musa focused on strengthening the empire’s religious and educational institutions. He commissioned the construction of mosques and madrasas in Timbuktu and Gao, including the Sankore Madrasah (University of Sankore), which became a renowned center of learning, attracting scholars from across Africa and the Middle East.
He invested heavily in education and the economy, ensuring Mali’s continued prosperity.
Though the exact date of his death remains uncertain, records suggest that he passed away between 1332 and 1337. His reign is widely regarded as Mali’s golden age.
Even centuries after his passing, attempts to estimate Mansa Musa’s fortune persist. Economic historians argue that his wealth is incalculable. However, in 2012, U.S. website Celebrity Net Worth estimated his wealth at $400 billion—a figure that surpasses that of any modern billionaire.
Some even compare his riches to those of the biblical King Solomon.
To learn more about the legendary Mansa Musa, watch the latest episode of ‘The BreakDown’ on PanaGenius TV, where Sandra Badu-Boateng tells his captivating story.
