The wealth of Black billionaires continues to span industries ranging from manufacturing and telecommunications to technology, finance, entertainment, sports and investment.
As of September 2026, Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote remains the most prominent name at the top of the global Black billionaire wealth table, with Forbes reporting that his fortune has risen above the $50 billion mark.
Forbes has separately described Dangote as Africa’s richest man and recently highlighted his rise above $50 billion.
Billionaire fortunes, however, are estimates and can change frequently because of movements in stock prices, private-company valuations, exchange rates and other assets. Forbes’ real-time list is updated as fortunes fluctuate.
Based on the wealth figures supplied and available September 2026 estimates, the list includes:
1. Aliko Dangote — $51.3 Billion
Country: Nigeria
Source of wealth: Cement, manufacturing, sugar, fertiliser, oil and refining
Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, has built a diversified industrial empire covering cement, sugar, fertiliser and petroleum refining. His estimated fortune has risen sharply, with Forbes reporting that he is now worth more than $50 billion.
2. David Steward — $12.3 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Information technology
David Steward is the founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, a major technology services company. Forbes’ September 15, 2026 real-time estimate put his fortune at $12.3 billion.
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3. Abdulsamad Rabiu — $12.2 Billion
Country: Nigeria
Source of wealth: Cement, sugar, food and manufacturing
Abdulsamad Rabiu is chairman of BUA Group, with interests spanning cement, sugar, food production and other industrial businesses.
4. Robert F. Smith — $10.9 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Private equity and technology
Robert F. Smith founded Vista Equity Partners, a private-equity firm focused on software and technology businesses. Forbes estimated his fortune at $10.9 billion in September 2026.
5. Mike Adenuga — $6.9 Billion
Country: Nigeria
Source of wealth: Telecommunications and oil
Mike Adenuga built his fortune through telecommunications and petroleum interests. He is the founder of Globacom and remains one of Nigeria’s leading businessmen.
6. Michael Jordan — $4.3 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Basketball, endorsements and investments
Basketball legend Michael Jordan has built substantial wealth beyond his playing career through endorsements, the Jordan Brand and various investments.
7. Patrice Motsepe — $3.6 Billion
Country: South Africa
Source of wealth: Mining and investments
Patrice Motsepe made his fortune through mining and investments, particularly through African Rainbow Minerals.
8. Oprah Winfrey — $3.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Television, media and investments
Oprah Winfrey transformed her television career into a broad media, production and investment empire, making her one of the world’s wealthiest Black women.
9. Jay-Z — $2.8 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Music, entertainment and investments
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has accumulated significant wealth through music, entertainment, investments, consumer businesses and other ventures.
10. Adebayo Ogunlesi — $2.5 Billion
Country: Nigeria/United States
Source of wealth: Private equity and infrastructure
Nigerian-born investor Adebayo Ogunlesi has built his fortune through private equity and infrastructure investments.
11. Strive Masiyiwa — About $2 Billion
Country: Zimbabwe
Source of wealth: Telecommunications and investments
Strive Masiyiwa founded Econet and built a major telecommunications business with interests across several markets and sectors.
12. Magic Johnson — About $1.6 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Sports, investments and business
Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson turned his sporting success into a diversified business and investment portfolio.
13. Tiger Woods — About $1.5 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Golf, endorsements and investments
Tiger Woods has generated substantial wealth through professional golf, sponsorships, endorsements and business ventures.
14. Herriot Tabuteau — About $1.5 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
Herriot Tabuteau is the founder and chief executive of Axsome Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for neurological and other disorders.
15. Tope Awotona — About $1.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Technology
Nigerian-born entrepreneur Tope Awotona founded Calendly, a scheduling software company that has grown into a major technology platform.
16. LeBron James — About $1.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Basketball, endorsements and investments
NBA superstar LeBron James has accumulated wealth through basketball, major endorsement agreements, investments and business ventures.
17. Tyler Perry — About $1.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Film, television and entertainment
Tyler Perry built his fortune through film and television production, acting, intellectual property and his ownership of Tyler Perry Studios.
18. Mohammed Ibrahim — About $1.3 Billion
Country: United Kingdom/Sudan
Source of wealth: Telecommunications and investments
Mohammed “Mo” Ibrahim made his fortune in telecommunications, particularly through Celtel International, before expanding his activities into investment and philanthropy.
19. Femi Otedola — About $1.3 Billion
Country: Nigeria
Source of wealth: Energy and investments
Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola has built his fortune through energy and investments and remains a significant figure in Nigeria’s business community.
20. [Position subject to current real-time verification]
The 20th position can vary depending on the date and methodology used to measure billionaire wealth.
Because Forbes’ real-time billionaire estimates change continuously, rankings based on a specific day can differ from annual billionaire lists. The September 2026 figures should therefore be treated as snapshots rather than fixed valuations.
Black Wealth Spans Multiple Industries
The fortunes on the list demonstrate the increasingly diverse sources of wealth among Black billionaires.
African billionaires such as Dangote, Rabiu, Adenuga, Ogunlesi and Otedola have built substantial fortunes through manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure and investment.
In the United States, major fortunes have emerged from technology, private equity, entertainment and professional sports. Forbes’ 2026 data, for example, places David Steward at $12.3 billion and Robert F. Smith at $10.9 billion in September.
The figures also underline the importance of distinguishing net worth from cash holdings. Billionaire wealth generally includes stakes in public companies, privately held businesses, real estate and other assets, meaning the reported value can rise or fall without the individual receiving or losing an equivalent amount of cash.
With markets continuing to move, the exact order and fortunes of the world’s richest Black billionaires can change from one day to another.
