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there are 23 Black billionaires worldwide in 2025, representing just 0.8% of the total 3,028 billionaires on the global list.
Together, these 23 individuals have amassed a combined wealth of $96.2 billion.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the world’s Black billionaires in 2025:
Top 10 Black Billionaires
1. Aliko Dangote – $23.9 billion
– Country: Nigeria
– Source: Cement, sugar, oil refinery
– Recently doubled his fortune with the opening of Africa’s largest oil and gas refinery
2. David Steward – $11.4 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: IT provider (World Wide Technology)
– His company generates $20 billion in annual revenue
3. Robert F. Smith – $10.8 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Private equity
– Founder of Vista Equity Partners with $100 billion in assets under management
4. Alexander Karp – $8.4 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Software (Palantir Technologies)
– Co-founder and CEO of data mining company with government agency clients
5. Mike Adenuga – $6.8 billion
– Country: Nigeria
– Source: Telecom, oil
– Made his first million at age 26 as a commodities trader
6. Abdulsamad Rabiu – $5.1 billion
– Country: Nigeria
– Source: Cement, sugar
– Founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate.
7. Michael Jordan – $3.5 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Charlotte Hornets, endorsements.
– Sold majority stake in Charlotte Hornets in a $3 billion deal in 2023
8. Patrice Motsepe – $3 billion (tied)
– Country: South Africa
– Source: Mining
– First Black African on the World’s Billionaires list (2008).
9. Oprah Winfrey – $3 billion (tied)
– Country: United States
Source: Media, TV.
– Built media empire from profits of her talk show and film productions
10. Jay-Z – $2.5 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Music, business ventures
– First hip-hop billionaire (2019)
Other Notable Black Billionaires on the List
11. Adebayo Ogunlesi – $2.2 billion
– country: United States (Nigerian-born)
– Source: Private equity (Global Infrastructure Partners).
12. Magic Johnson – $1.5 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Basketball, investments
– Holds 60% stake in Equitrust life insurance company.
13. Femi Otedola – $1.5 billion
Country: Nigeria
Source: Energy (Geregu Power)
14. Tope Awotona – $1.4 billion
– Country: Nigeria & United States
– Source: Tech (Calendly)
15. Tyler Perry – $1.4 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Entertainment, studio ownership.
16. Tiger Woods** – $1.4 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Golf, endorsements.
17. Rihanna – $1.4 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Music, Fenty Beauty
18. Mohammed Ibrahim – $1.3 billion
– Country: Sudan & United Kingdom
– Source: Telecommunications, investment.
19. LeBron James – $1.3 billion
– Country: United States
– Source: Basketball, business ventures
20. Strive Masiyiwa – $1.2 billion
– Country: Zimbabwe
– Source: Telecom (Econet Group).
New Additions in 2025:
– Sheila Johnson: Co-founder of BET, luxury hotel and resort entrepreneur
– Herriot Tabuteau: Founder of Axsome Therapeutics, focused on brain disorders
Interesting Statistics:
– Black billionaires make up just 0.8% of the world’s billionaire population
– Nigeria has the most Black billionaires with 4
– The United States has the most American Black billionaires with 10
– Many derive their wealth from technology, finance, energy, and entertainment
– Athletes-turned-entrepreneurs make up 4 of the 23 Black billionaires (Jordan, Johnson, Woods, James)
This list represents extraordinary achievement despite systemic barriers, with these individuals creating wealth across diverse sectors from technology and finance to entertainment and sports.
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