In a global economy boasting 3,028 billionaires with a combined fortune of $16.1 trillion, Black entrepreneurs have carved out an impressive space on Forbes’ prestigious annual World Billionaires list. Though representing just 0.8 percent of the total billionaires worldwide, these 23 Black moguls exemplify extraordinary business acumen, innovation and perseverance across diverse industries.
The 2025 list showcases remarkable wealth generation among Black entrepreneurs, with figures spanning entertainment, sports, technology, mining and finance. Their achievements provide compelling evidence that barriers to wealth creation can be overcome, even as their proportional representation underscores persistent challenges in achieving economic equity.
African business titan leads with unprecedented wealth
At the pinnacle stands Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian business magnate whose $23.9 billion fortune makes him the wealthiest Black person globally. As founder and CEO of Dangote Group, his strategic investments in Africa’s largest oil and gas refinery have propelled his wealth to extraordinary heights. Dangote’s success demonstrates the immense potential for wealth creation within the African continent.
Following Dangote in this elite group is David Steward, co-founder of World Wide Technology, with an impressive $11.4 billion fortune. The technology sector continues to be a fertile ground for wealth generation, as evidenced by Robert F. Smith, whose Vista Equity Partners has helped amass his $10.8 billion net worth, securing him third position among Black billionaires.
Sports legends transform athletic prowess into business empires
Michael Jordan holds the seventh position with a substantial $3.5 billion net worth. The basketball icon’s recent sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion significantly boosted his wealth. Jordan’s transition from athletic superstar to business mogul represents a blueprint for athletes seeking long-term financial success.
Following this pattern of sports-to-business success, Magic Johnson has accumulated $1.5 billion through strategic investments following his basketball career. LeBron James, still active in his basketball career while simultaneously building his business portfolio, holds the 18th position with $1.3 billion, demonstrating how modern athletes are creating wealth during their active careers.
Media and entertainment figures dominate the rankings
The entertainment industry has proven particularly fertile for Black wealth creation. Oprah Winfrey shares the eighth position with mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, both commanding $3 billion fortunes. Winfrey’s media empire and strategic investments continue to generate substantial returns decades after she first achieved prominence.
Music and film have produced multiple billionaires, with Jay-Z’s diverse business portfolio yielding $2.5 billion. Tyler Perry and Rihanna share the 14th position, each worth $1.4 billion. Perry’s film studio ownership and production companies have revolutionized Black representation in entertainment, while Rihanna’s transition from music to fashion and beauty has created a formidable business empire through her Fenty brands.
Technology and finance create pathways to immense wealth
Beyond entertainment and sports, technology and finance remain powerful wealth generators. Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), rounds out the list with $1 billion. Her diversified investments across media, hospitality and sports team ownership demonstrate the importance of portfolio diversification.
South African mining executive Patrice Motsepe has leveraged his nation’s natural resources to build African Rainbow Minerals into a continental powerhouse. His success highlights how expertise in extractive industries can create substantial wealth when paired with strategic vision and operational excellence.
The future of Black wealth creation
The presence of these 23 individuals on Forbes’ list represents both achievement and opportunity. Their success demonstrates that barriers to wealth creation can be overcome through innovation, persistence and strategic thinking. However, their proportional representation, less than 1 percent of global billionaires, indicates significant room for growth.
Several factors contribute to this limited representation, including historical barriers to capital access, systemic inequities in education and networking opportunities, and persistent disparities in venture capital funding. Organizations focused on Black entrepreneurship point to these 23 billionaires as evidence that such barriers can be surmounted while acknowledging that structural changes would allow more equitable wealth distribution.
As younger entrepreneurs like Rihanna and LeBron James continue building their empires, they create templates for future generations. Their emphasis on ownership, diverse revenue streams and leveraging personal brands into business opportunities provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The stories behind these 23 billionaires serve as powerful reminders of what’s possible through vision, determination and strategic execution. While celebrating these exceptional achievements, their presence on this elite list also invites deeper examination of how to create more equitable pathways to substantial wealth creation within the Black community and beyond.
