The 2025 ranking of the world’s Black billionaires has been released, highlighting 23 individuals whose combined fortunes run into tens of billions of dollars and span industries ranging from manufacturing and energy to technology, finance, sports, and entertainment.
Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote retains his position at the top of the list with an estimated net worth of $23.9 billion, further cementing his status as Africa’s richest person. Dangote’s dominance reflects the continued strength of industrial manufacturing and infrastructure-led wealth on the continent.
The latest ranking also underscores the growing influence of technology and innovation in global wealth creation. Tech leaders such as Alexander Karp and Tope Awotona feature prominently, signalling a shift toward software, data, and digital platforms as major drivers of new fortunes.
The United States continues to account for the largest share of names on the list, while Nigeria maintains a strong presence with multiple billionaires ranked in the top 15. Africa and the Caribbean are also represented, reflecting the global spread of Black wealth across continents and sectors.
Below is the full list of The World’s Black Billionaires 2025, according to Forbes:
Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – $23.9bn
David Steward (USA) – $11.4bn
Robert F. Smith (USA) – $10.8bn
Alexander Karp (USA) – $8.4bn
Mike Adenuga (Nigeria) – $6.8bn
Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $5.1bn
Michael Jordan (USA) – $3.5bn
Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – $3.0bn
Oprah Winfrey (USA) – $3.0bn
Jay-Z (USA) – $2.5bn
Adebayo Ogunlesi (USA) – $2.2bn
Magic Johnson (USA) – $1.5bn
Femi Otedola (Nigeria) – $1.5bn
Tope Awotona (USA) – $1.4bn
Tyler Perry (USA) – $1.4bn
Tiger Woods (USA) – $1.4bn
Rihanna (Barbados) – $1.4bn
Mo Ibrahim (UK) – $1.3bn
LeBron James (USA) – $1.3bn
Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe) – $1.2bn
Michael Lee-Chin (Canada) – $1.1bn
Herriot Tabuteau (USA) – $1.1bn
Sheila Johnson (USA) – $1.0bn
The 2025 list reflects both legacy wealth built over decades and newer fortunes driven by technology, entertainment, and global finance, pointing to an evolving landscape of Black economic influence worldwide.
Source: Forbes