They are media titans, top sportsmen, musicians, performers, investors, and entertainers.
The list was developed by Stacker using current data from Forbes magazine to create a ranking of the ten wealthiest Black Americans. The richest person was ranked first among people according to their overall wealth rating.
Over half of the Black billionaires in America came into fortune in the sports or entertainment sectors, though they come from a variety of economic enterprises and industries. The total wealth of the individuals on this list is $27 billion, which is a significant sum of money, but it only represents one-eighth of Elon Musk’s estimated $218 billion net worth, the richest person in the world.
Of all the nations featured on Forbes’ list of 2,640 billionaires in 2023, the United States has the most billionaires. And yet, just two Black Americans make up the top 1,000 richest persons in the world. This wealth divide is the product of long-standing American policies that denied Black Americans the opportunity to amass money while frequently using their labour to increase the wealth of White Americans.
Black millionaires in America have overcome these obstacles to reach the pinnacle of monetary prosperity.
#10. Tyler Perry
Net worth: $1 billion
Global wealth rank: 2,593
Age: 53
Source of wealth: Movies, television
Tyler Perry is a writer, producer, director, and actor who made his fortune in the film and television industries. All of his stuff, including the well-known “Madea” franchise, is his. Tyler Perry Studios, a 330-acre complex with 12 stages, is near Perry’s home in Atlanta.
#9. LeBron James
Net worth: $1 billion
Global wealth rank: 2,537
Age: 38
Source of wealth: Basketball
LeBron James, one of the all-time great basketball players, is the first living NBA player to appear on Forbes’ list of billionaires. James played for the Miami Heat and his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, before beginning his NBA career at the age of 18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. James earns money outside of basketball through endorsement deals with Pepsi, Walmart, and Nike as well as through ownership in Beats by Dre and Blaze Pizza.
#8. Tiger Woods
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Global wealth rank: 2,505
Age: 47
Source of wealth: Golf
Tiger Woods, who is tied for first in PGA Tour victories, is regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. After LeBron James, he is the second active athlete to appear on the Forbes billionaires list. In addition to golf, Woods earns money from his investments in real estate, a company that designs golf courses, a chain of upscale mini-golf courses, and TMRW Sports, a tech and sports company he co-founded with the intention of establishing a new golf league.
#7. Tope Awotona
Net worth: $1.2 billion
Global wealth rank: 2,303
Age: 42
Source of wealth: Software.
The founder and CEO of the software startup Calendly, which automates meeting scheduling, is Tope Awotona. Awotona, who was born in Nigeria, moved to Atlanta with his family when he was a youngster. He created Calendly in 2013 and has a history in IT company sales.
#6. Alexander Karp
Net worth: $1.8 billion
Global wealth rank: 1,700
Age: 55
Source of wealth: Software firm
Co-founder and CEO of the software company Palantir, which specialises in big data analytics powered by artificial intelligence, is Alexander Karp. The FBI, the Danish National Police, and the Department of Defence all use Palantir’s platform for defence and intelligence operations under contract. Karp was born in New York and raised in Philadelphia; the headquarters of Palantir are in Denver.
#5. Michael Jordan
Net worth: $2 billion
Global wealth rank: 1,528
Age: 60
Source of wealth: Charlotte Hornets, endorsements
LeBron James and Michael Jordan are two of the best basketball players in history. Jordan’s Chicago Bulls team captured six NBA championships in the 1990s. His current sources of wealth include ownership of the NBA club Charlotte Hornets, co-ownership of a NASCAR team, investments in DraftKings, and endorsement deals with brands including Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade.
#4. Jay-Z
Net worth: $2.5 billion
Global wealth rank: 1,256
Age: 53
Source of wealth: Multiple
The first billionaire in hip-hop is a multihyphenate by the name of Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z. He is Beyoncé’s husband and a rapper, record producer, and businessman. Jay-Z’s wealth is derived from his fine art collection, music library, the entertainment firm he formed, Roc Nation, and a number of brand assets, including alcoholic beverages, apparel, music streaming, a network of sports bars, and more.
#3. Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $2.5 billion
Global wealth rank: 1,254
Age: 69
Source of wealth: TV shows
The lone lady on this list is Oprah Winfrey, the first Black woman billionaire in the United States. Her widely syndicated talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which first broadcast in 1986 and ran for 25 years, is the main source of her fortune. Winfrey used her talk show as a springboard to build a media empire that today encompasses Harpo Productions and the OWN cable channel. Winfrey, who was raised in Milwaukee and Nashville after being born in Mississippi, has also made money as an actor and WeightWatchers investor.
#2. David Steward
Net worth: $6 billion
Global wealth rank: 431
Age: 71
Source of wealth: IT provider
World Wide Technology, an IT company that assists big businesses with digital strategy, technology, and supply chain solutions, was founded by David Steward. Steward also contributed to the founding of Telcobuy, a World Wide Technology offshoot that offers data protection and enterprise networking services. He was raised in Missouri after being born in Chicago.
#1. Robert F. Smith
Net worth: $8 billion
Global wealth rank: 266
Age: 60
Source of wealth: Private equity
Robert F. Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity company that invests in software firms, is the wealthiest Black American. Before obtaining his MBA, Smith worked as a chemical engineer in Denver. In 2000, he founded Vista Equity Partners, which has consistently produced annual returns over 30%.
