Forbes released its 2025 edition of the world’s billionaires list, featuring 3,028 individuals with a collective wealth of $16.1 trillion. Among them, only 23 Black billionaires made the cut, representing just 0.8% of the global elite, with a combined net worth of $96.2 billion.
These Black billionaires have made their fortunes in various industries such as finance, energy, technology, sports, and entertainment. Their success stories are a testament to extraordinary innovation, perseverance, and strategic brilliance.
Here are the top 20 wealthiest Black billionaires in the world in 2025, according to Forbes, showcasing their net worth, business ventures, and impact:
20. Strive Masiyiwa – $1.2 Billion (Zimbabwe)
Founder of Econet Group, Masiyiwa’s telecoms empire spans multiple continents. His philanthropic efforts support education and healthcare in Africa.
Background: Born in Zimbabwe in 1961, Masiyiwa studied electrical engineering in the UK before founding Econet in 1993.
Telecoms Vision: Econet Group operates across Africa, providing telecommunications services in countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Lesotho, expanding mobile connectivity across the continent.
19. LeBron James – $1.3 Billion (USA)
The first active NBA player to reach billionaire status, James earns from endorsements, his production company SpringHill, and investments.
Background: Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1984, James entered the NBA directly from high school and has won four NBA championships with three different teams.
Business Portfolio: Apart from his NBA salary, James earns from his lifetime deal with Nike, his production company SpringHill Entertainment, investments in Blaze Pizza, Liverpool FC, and various start-ups.
18. Mohammed Ibrahim – $1.3 Billion (UK/Sudan)
Founder of Celtel, sold for $3.4 billion, Ibrahim now focuses on good governance in Africa through the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Background: Born in Sudan in 1946, Ibrahim studied electrical engineering in the UK before founding Celtel in 1998.
Telecoms Pioneer: Celtel became one of Africa’s largest mobile phone networks, operating in 15 African countries before being sold to Zain Group for $3.4 billion in 2005.
17. Michael Lee-Chin – $1.4 Billion (Canada/Jamaica)
Lee-Chin made his wealth through National Commercial Bank Jamaica and investment firm AIC Limited.
Background: Born in Jamaica in 1951, Lee-Chin immigrated to Canada, where he worked various jobs while studying economics at McMaster University.
Banking Empire: National Commercial Bank Jamaica is the country’s largest bank, serving over 1.5 million customers and expanding throughout the Caribbean under Lee-Chin’s leadership.
16. Herriot Tabuteau – $1.4 Billion (USA/Haiti)
Founder of Axsome Therapeutics, a biotech firm focused on mental health, Tabuteau is a newcomer to the billionaire list.
Background: Born in Haiti, Tabuteau is a physician-entrepreneur with expertise in neurology and psychiatry, moving to the US for medical training and career opportunities.
Biotech Innovation: Axsome Therapeutics focuses on developing treatments for central nervous system disorders like depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s disease, with promising drugs in clinical trials.
15. Rihanna – $1.4 Billion (Barbados)
The music icon-turned-mogul built her empire through Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and lucrative brand partnerships.
Background: Born Robyn Fenty in Barbados in 1988, Rihanna is a global music superstar with over 250 million records sold worldwide and nine Grammy Awards.
Beauty Revolution: Fenty Beauty, launched in 2017, revolutionized the cosmetics industry with its inclusive 40-shade foundation range, catering to people of color ignored by major brands for decades.
14. Sheila Johnson – $1.4 Billion (USA)
A new entrant in 2025, Johnson co-founded BET and owns luxury resorts and sports teams, becoming the first Black woman billionaire in hospitality.
Background: Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1949, Johnson co-founded BET with her then-husband Robert Johnson in 1980, showcasing her talents as a trained violinist and former music teacher.
Hospitality Empire: Johnson owns luxury resorts like Salamander Resort & Spa and Innisbrook Resort, focusing on luxury experiences and wellness. She also has ownership stakes in sports teams like the Washington Mystics, Capitals, and Wizards.
13. Magic Johnson – $1.5 Billion (USA)
Beyond basketball, Johnson holds a 60% stake in Equitrust and ownership in teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Sparks.
Background: Born in Lansing, Michigan, in 1959, Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA championships before retiring due to an HIV diagnosis, transitioning into a successful businessman and HIV advocate.
Investment Strategy: Johnson focuses on businesses catering to underserved communities, bringing cinemas, restaurants, and other services to urban areas overlooked by major corporations.
12. Femi Otedola – $1.7 Billion (Nigeria)
Otedola’s investments in Geregu Power and past ventures like Forte Oil have cemented his place among Africa’s business elite.
Background: Born in Lagos in 1962, Otedola hails from a political family and studied at Obafemi Awolowo University before venturing into business.
Energy Focus: After selling Forte Oil, Otedola acquired Geregu Power, one of Nigeria’s largest electricity generation companies, investing heavily to expand the country’s power generation capacity.
11. Jay-Z – $2.5 Billion (USA)
Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z made his fortune from Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac champagne, and other ventures, reshaping the boundaries of culture and commerce.
Background: Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969, Jay-Z grew up in the Marcy Houses housing project, starting his career selling records before founding Roc-A-Fella Records.
Entertainment Empire: Roc Nation, founded in 2008, represents artists and athletes, producing content across music, sports, and entertainment, managing the careers of top-tier talent.
10. Oprah Winfrey – $3 Billion (USA)
The only woman in the top 10, Winfrey built her empire through media, with significant investments in real estate and Weight Watchers.
Background: Born in rural Mississippi in 1954, Winfrey overcame poverty and trauma to become one of the world’s most influential media personalities, starting in radio before moving to television.
Media Legacy: “The Oprah Winfrey Show” ran for 25 years, reaching 44 million viewers in the US. She owns the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and has produced successful television shows and films.
9. Patrice Motsepe – $3 Billion (South Africa)
Founder of African Rainbow Minerals, Motsepe became Africa’s first Black billionaire in 2008, also owning digital bank TymeBank.
Background: Born in Soweto in 1962, Motsepe studied law before entering the mining industry, transforming African Rainbow Minerals into a key player in South Africa’s mining sector.
Mining Empire: African Rainbow Minerals operates gold, platinum, and other mineral mines, playing a pivotal role in South Africa’s mining transformation and Black economic empowerment.
8. Michael Jordan – $3.5 Billion (USA)
NBA legend Jordan became a billionaire through Nike royalties, brand endorsements, and the $3 billion sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
Background: Born in Brooklyn in 1963, Jordan’s basketball career with the Chicago Bulls made him a global icon, with his business acumen shining post-retirement.
Brand Empire: Jordan’s lifetime deal with Nike includes royalties from the Jordan Brand, generating over $5 billion annually. He has invested in restaurants, car dealerships, and became a NASCAR team owner.
7. Abdulsamad Rabiu – $5.1 Billion (Nigeria)
Founder of BUA Group, Rabiu amassed his wealth through cement, sugar, and real estate investments across Nigeria.
Background: Born in Kano in 1960, Rabiu took a small family trading business to new heights, expanding BUA Group’s operations and investing in Nigerian infrastructure.
Industrial Empire: BUA Group operates in sectors like cement production, sugar refining, and port operations, investing billions in Nigerian infrastructure.
6. Mike Adenuga – $6.8 Billion (Nigeria)
Adenuga, founder of Globacom and Conoil, is one of Africa’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, with a diversified portfolio spanning telecommunications and oil.
Background: Born in Ibadan in 1953, Adenuga started as a taxi driver before venturing into oil and telecommunications, revolutionizing Nigeria’s telecom industry with Globacom.
Telecoms Revolution: Globacom serves over 60 million subscribers across Nigeria, Ghana, and Benin, introducing per-second billing and affordable rates, paving the way for affordable communication.
5. Alexander Karp – $8.4 Billion (USA)
Co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, Karp’s data firm is valued at over $160 billion, serving clients like the CIA and FBI.
Background: Born in 1967, Karp holds law and social theory degrees, founding Palantir in 2003, focusing on big data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Technology Leadership: Palantir helps organizations make sense of vast amounts of information, serving government and commercial clients with advanced data solutions.
4. Mohammed Al Amoudi – $10.3 Billion (Ethiopia/Saudi Arabia)
Al Amoudi’s wealth comes from oil, mining, and real estate investments, including ownership of Ethiopia’s largest gold mine and various Saudi businesses.
Background: Born in Ethiopia in 1946, Al Amoudi moved to Saudi Arabia, building a diversified business empire with operations in oil, gold mining, and real estate.
Business Portfolio: His Midroc Group operates in various sectors, including oil operations in Sweden and Ethiopia, gold mining through Midroc Gold Mine, and significant real estate holdings.
3. Robert F. Smith – $10.8 Billion (USA)
Founder of Vista Equity Partners, Smith runs the world’s largest Black-owned private equity firm, managing over $100 billion in assets.
Background: Born in Denver in 1962, Smith earned degrees in chemical engineering and business before founding Vista in 2000, focusing on technology businesses.
Business Strategy: Vista specializes in enterprise software companies, identifying and improving technology businesses systematically, generating consistent returns above industry averages.
2. David Steward – $11.4 Billion (USA)
The richest Black American, Steward, co-founded World Wide Technology in 1990, with an annual revenue of $20 billion, serving clients like Citi and Verizon.
Background: Born in Chicago in 1951, Steward overcame dyslexia to start WWT with just seven employees, growing it into one of the largest Black-owned businesses in America.
Business Empire: WWT provides technology solutions to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, offering cloud services, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
1. Aliko Dangote – $23.9 Billion (Nigeria)
Africa’s richest man, Dangote leads the Dangote Group, West Africa’s largest conglomerate, with a $23 billion oil refinery, the seventh largest in the world, opening in 2024.
Background: Born in Kano in 1957, Dangote started his business journey at age 21, expanding from trading commodities to manufacturing cement, sugar, salt, and flour.
Business Empire: The Dangote Group operates across 18 African countries, with the Dangote Cement Company being Africa’s largest producer, and the petroleum refinery poised to make Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products.
These Black billionaires exemplify the heights of success and the impact one can make through innovation, determination, and strategic vision. Their stories inspire generations to come, showcasing the power of entrepreneurship and perseverance.
