2023 Forbes list of 17 richest black people in the world

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1. Aliko Dangote ($10.8 billion)

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, tops the list.

2. Robert F. Smith  ($8 B)

Smith founded private equity firm Vista Equity Partners in 2000. 

3. David Steward ($7.6 B)

Founder and chairman of IT provider World Wide Technology.

4. Abdulsamad Rabiu ($5.6 B)

Founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate.

5.Mike Adenuga  ($3.6 B)

Adenuga built his fortune in telecom and oil production; Glo and Conoil.

6. Jay-Z ($2.5 B) His music catalogue, sale of Ace of Spades and Cognac boosted his earnings.

7. Oprah Winfrey ($2.5 B)

Profits from her TV show of 25 years combined with profits from films make up her estimates.

8. PATRICE MOTSEPE  ($2.3 B)

The founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, became a billionaire in 2008 – the first black African on the Forbes list.

 

9. Michael Jordan  ($2 B)

The NBA legend has earned $1.8 billion (pre-tax) from Nike, Hanes and Gatorade.

10. STRIVE MASIYIWA, ($1.8 B)

Owner of mobile phone network Econet Wireless, which was launched in Zimbabwe, his country of birth in 1998.

11. Alexander Karp ($1.8 B)

CEO of data mining firm Palantir Technologies, which received early backing from CIA investment arm In-Q-Tel.

 

12. Rihanna ($1.4 B)

The singer is a billionaire thanks to the success of cosmetics line Fenty Beauty.

13. Michael Lee-Chin  ($1.4 B)

Lee-Chin made a fortune investing in financial companies like National Commercial Bank Jamaica and AIC Limited.

14. MOHAMMED IBRAHIM  ($1.2 B) Ibrahim founded Celtel International in 1998, one of the first mobile phone companies serving Africa and the Middle East.

15. Tiger Woods  ($1.1 B)

Woods has earned roughly $1.8 billion during his pro golf career, including a PGA Tour-record $121 million in prize money. 

16. LeBron James ($1 B)

The first active NBA player to become a billionaire, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $1 billion in June.

17. Tyler Perry  ($1B

Perry’s wealth comes from being a producer and from a library dating back to the early 1990s.