Dangote’s reign, Rihanna’s rise, Jay-Z’s fortune, Oprah’s legacy — Forbes’ recent Black Billionaire list stuns with South Africa’s 37,400 millionaires

Forbes has unveiled its much-anticipated latest 2025 list of Black billionaires, spotlighting some of the most influential figures in business, sports, technology, and entertainment. The report underscores the growing global influence of Black wealth, with Nigeria and the United States leading the pack.

At the top is Aliko Dangote Africa’s richest man, who cemented his dominance with an astonishing net worth of $23.9 billion. Dangote’s fortune surged after the long-awaited Dangote Refinery began operations in 2024, adding more than $10 billion to his wealth within a single year. His continued success reinforces Nigeria’s position as the economic powerhouse of Africa.

Also flying the Nigerian flag are telecom and oil mogul Mike Adenuga ($6.8B) and industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu ($5.1B), both of whom maintain thriving business empires in cement, sugar, and energy. Femi Otedola ($1.5B), chairman of Geregu Power, and Tope Awotona ($1.4B), the tech entrepreneur behind scheduling platform Calendly, join the ranks as fresh entrants, reflecting the rise of new wealth creators from Nigeria’s business and technology ecosystem.

Across the Atlantic, the United States boasts the largest number of Black billionaires. Leading the pack is David Steward ($11.4B), founder of Worldwide Technology, followed by Robert F. Smith ($10.8B) of Vista Equity Partners. Cultural icons also feature prominently: Oprah Winfrey ($3B), Jay-Z ($2.5B), Tyler Perry ($1.4B), and Rihanna ($1.4B), who continue to leverage creativity, brand power, and smart investments into billion-dollar empires.

Sports legends have also transformed athletic fame into generational wealth. Michael Jordan ($3.5B), Magic Johnson ($1.5B), Tiger Woods ($1.4B), and LeBron James ($1.3B) illustrate how global sports icons have successfully built diversified investment portfolios beyond their playing careers.

In Southern Africa, Patrice Motsepe ($3B) of South Africa and Strive Masiyiwa ($1.2B) of Zimbabwe represent the continent’s growing billionaire circle. Yet, South Africa leads Africa’s broader wealth landscape with 37,400 millionaires and 102 centi-millionaires, outpacing Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya combined.

In total, 23 Black billionaires feature on Forbes’ 2025 list, reflecting both progress and persistent challenges in wealth distribution. While the U.S. remains home to the highest number, Nigeria continues to serve as Africa’s billionaire capital, symbolizing the continent’s potential for wealth creation in the decades ahead.

The report not only highlights financial success but also emphasizes the role of entrepreneurship, innovation, and cultural influence in shaping the global Black billionaire class.