The World’s Black Billionaires 2025

This year’s Forbes Billionaires list features a record 3,028 billionaires worth a combined US$16.1 trillion. Among them, 23 Black billionaires – just 0.8 percent of the list – hold an impressive US$96.2 billion in wealth, primarily from finance, energy, and technology.

Aliko Dangote: The Richest Black Billionaire

Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, remains the wealthiest Black person and ranks 83rd globally with an estimated US$23.9 billion – nearly double his fortune from last year. His rise is fueled by Africa’s largest oil and gas refinery, a US$23 billion megaproject transforming Nigerian marshland into the world’s seventh-largest refinery.

Overcoming immense challenges, including moving 365 million cubic meters of sand, constructing a private port and roads, and securing a 5,000-ton crane years in advance, Dangote called it “the biggest risk of my life.”

Top Black Billionaires

Following Dangote is David Steward (US$11.4 billion), an American IT entrepreneur. Robert F. Smith (US$10.8 billion), Alexander Karp (US$8.4 billion), and Nigeria’s Mike Adenuga (US$6.8 billion) complete the top five.

New Billionaires and Legacy

Newcomers this year include Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, and Herriot Tabuteau, a biotech entrepreneur. The late Junior Bridgeman, an NBA Sixth Man turned business mogul, was also poised to debut with an estimated US$1.4 billion before his passing in March.

He would have joined Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods as the only Black athlete billionaires.

“He didn’t just think about basketball – he always had a business mindset,” LeBron James told Forbes in February.

Want the full list? Keep reading…