Aliko Dangote leads the world’s Black billionaires with a $23.9 billion fortune, driven by his Nigeria-based Dangote Refinery, which began operations in early 2024. Forbes’ 2025 list includes 23 Black billionaires, collectively worth $96.2 billion, representing just 0.8% of global billionaires. These entrepreneurs and innovators span industries like energy, tech, and media, with significant influence in Africa and beyond.
## Top Black Billionaires by Net Worth
– : $23.9 billion (Nigeria) | Cement, oil refining
– : $11.4 billion (U.S.) | IT solutions firm World Wide Technology
– : $10.8 billion (U.S.) | Vista Equity Partners private equity
– : $6.8 billion (Nigeria) | Telecoms (Globacom), oil
– : $3 billion (South Africa) | Mining (African Rainbow Minerals)
## Key Sectors and Regional Impact
Dangote’s $19 billion refinery aims to reduce Africa’s fuel imports, while Nigeria’s Femi Otedola ($1.5 billion) dominates power generation through Geregu Power. Adebayo Ogunlesi ($2.2 billion) co-founded Global Infrastructure Partners, acquired by BlackRock for $12.5 billion.
U.S. billionaires like Tope Awotona ($1.4 billion), founder of scheduling tool Calendly, and Alexander Karp ($8.4 billion), CEO of Palantir Technologies, highlight Black innovation in software and data analytics. Vista Equity Partners, led by Smith, manages $100 billion in assets.
Oprah Winfrey ($3 billion) and Tyler Perry ($1.4 billion) built empires in television and film. Jay-Z ($2.5 billion) and Rihanna ($1.4 billion) leveraged music into luxury brands and cosmetics.
## Nigerian Dominance
Six Nigerians made the list, including Dangote, Adenuga, and Ogunlesi. Abdulsamad Rabiu ($5.1 billion) of BUA Group and Femi Otedola round out Africa’s strongest representation. Their investments in cement, sugar, and energy underscore Nigeria’s economic potential.
Despite progress, Black billionaires remain vastly underrepresented globally, comprising less than 1% of total billionaires. Their collective impact, however, spans continents—from Dangote’s refinery reshaping African energy independence to Steward’s IT solutions powering Fortune 500 companies.
