Forbes has just unveiled its 2025 ranking of the world’s...

Forbes has just unveiled its 2025 ranking of the world’s richest people —and once again, Black billionaires make up a slim but powerful slice of the list. Out of 3,028 billionaires worldwide, only 23 are Black, representing just 0.8%, yet their combined wealth totals a staggering $96.2 billion. It's a triumphant, yet sobering, reflection of economic disparity and extraordinary accomplishment.

Here are some of the top names and their net worths:

1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) leads the pack with approximately $23.9 billion, thanks to the scaling operations of his refinery and cement ventures. 


2. David Steward (USA) follows with around $11.4 billion, built through World Wide Technology, a dominant IT services firm. 


3. Robert F. Smith  (USA), at $10.8 billion, leads Vista Equity Partners, a powerhouse in private equity. 


4. Alexander Karp, co-founder of Palantir, is valued at around $8.4 billion. 


5. Mike Adenuga (Nigeria), with an estimated $6.8 billion, ranks among the top five globally. 


6. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) follows with a net worth of about $5.1 billion. 


7. Notably, Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Michael Jordan, Rihanna, Patrice Motsepe, Strive Masiyiwa, and others also appear on the list.

At the pinnacle is Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, whose fortune—estimated between $23.8 billion and $24.9 billion—makes him not just the richest Black billionaire, but Africa’s wealth kingpin. His empire stems from refined dominance in commodities and the continent’s largest oil refinery.

Behind Dangote are U.S. heavyweights harnessing power across tech and finance: David Steward ($11.4B) built a $20B IT juggernaut, while Robert F. Smith ($10.8B) heads Vista Equity Partners, the largest Black-owned private equity firm. Alexander Karp of Palantir adds data-tech clout with his $8.4B valuation. On the African tech scene, Mike Adenuga ($6.8B) and Abdulsamad Rabiu ($5.1B) remain staples of telecom and manufacturing wealth.

The 2025 list also celebrates meaningful diversity and new disruptors:

Sheila Johnson, the first Black female billionaire and co-founder of BET, powered by luxury resorts and sports franchise stakes.

Herriot Tabuteau, CEO of Axsome Therapeutics in biotech.

Iconic celebrity moguls like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Tyler Perry continue to prove that cultural influence and business acumen go hand in hand.

Looking deeper into the list reveals even more fascinating names and stories:

Former athletes and sports personalities going billionaire—Magic Johnson, Tiger Woods, LeBron James.

Tech founders like Tope Awotona (Calendly) and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa. Their paths highlight Black excellence not just as financial outliers, but as versatile, cross-sector innovators lighting the way forward.