Many famous billionaires are white, but over the years, more and more black people are among the richest people in the world.
Here's a list of the most extravagant and wealthy black billionaires for 2020.
10. Mohammed Ibrahim
Status - $ 1.2 billion
Our list is opened by Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, who is changing Africa and the world in many ways. Chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2008, Mo Ibrahim, as he is often called, has received numerous awards for his work in academia, business and philanthropy.
Mohammed Ibrahim is the co-founder of Celtel International, one of the largest telecommunications companies in Africa. In 2005, he sold the company for $ 3.4 billion.
However, Ibrahim's true claim to fame did not come from his phenomenal business success, but from how he continued to use his extraordinary wealth. Mo Ibrahim has launched his own unique brand of charitable generosity, aimed at no less than promoting democracy in African countries.
He founded the African Leadership and Leadership Achievement Foundation and Award, and has partnered with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government to create the Africa Governance Performance Index. This is a comprehensive ranking of sub-Saharan Africa across multiple indicators of transparency and accountability.
9. Folorunsho Alakija
Condition - $ 1.5 billion
The first lady on the list of the richest black people in the world was able to succeed in Nigeria, a country where most women are oppressed or housewives. While Folorunsho's life story is neither dramatic nor Oscar-worthy, her business and financial accomplishments are impressive.
She founded her first company, Supreme Stitches, and ended up dressing the most powerful people in the country like Merion Babangida, wife of former head of state Ibrahim Babangida. She has since obtained an oil exploration license and entered the printing business, forming Rose of Sharon Prints.
It is curious that the success of Folorunsho in the oil business impressed the government of Nigeria so much that in 2000 it decided to nationalize 40% of Famfa Oil's share, and in 2005 it “bit off” another 10%. And the businesswoman decided to take a step that many considered insane - she began to sue the government. After lengthy litigation, the company's share was returned to her.
Alakija currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family and the $ 1.5 billion business empire she has been building for so long and diligently.
8. Michael Jordan
Status - $ 1.9 billion
Number 8 on our list of the richest black billionaires is the great basketball player Michael Jordan. He paved the way into the world of big sports for many children striving to be like him. And although Mike no longer plays in the NBA, his fame and records have not been forgotten.
The basketball game and important sponsorships such as Nike earned him roughly $ 1.9 billion, Forbes estimates. Jordan still has active sponsorship deals with companies like Gatorade or Hanes.
His contract with Nike to make Signature Air Jordan Shoes earns him $ 100 million every year. He also owns 90% of the Charlotte Hornets, which is valued at over $ 1 billion.
7. Strive Masiyiwa
Status - $ 2.1 billion
The first billionaire in his country - Zimbabwe - owns the nation's largest telecommunications company, Econet Group, which also invests in (flex your fingers)
- Financial services,
- insurance,
- e-commerce,
- renewable energy sources,
- education,
- bottling Coca Cola,
- hotel business,
- and solutions for payment gateways.
6. Patrice Mocepe
Status - $ 2.3 billion
Mocepe is the founder of African Rainbow Minerals, which mines gold, platinum, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. He also serves on the board of Harmony Gold, the first largest gold mining company in South Africa. By the way, it was this company that received the license to sell a replica of the precious ring from The Lord of the Rings.
Mocepe is the first black person to sign the Giving Pledge (a campaign to encourage the richest people to pursue philanthropy) alongside billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. He is often invited as a speaker at conferences and business events to talk about his career and give advice to young entrepreneurs. Patrice's ideas for how to make billions should be made of gold because he definitely spends a lot of time traveling and training.
5. Isabel dos Santos
Status - $ 2.4 billion
One of the richest black women in the world is the eldest daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Her father helped her secure certain leadership positions that secured Isabelle's bright financial future.
Making her daughter the head of Sonangol, the country's largest oil company, was an unsafe move for Jose, but it proved to be a springboard for her to jump into the list of the richest women in the world. With the money she earned, Isabelle bought shares in a Portuguese cement company and about 5% in the Spanish Telefonica. She is currently the richest person in Angola, with most of the population living on $ 2 a day.
4. Oprah Winfrey
Condition - $ 3 billion
The famous host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, unlike the fifth richest black man in 2020, did not receive her fortune from her parents. She is, as they say, a self-made woman, a woman who made herself, by hard work.
Oprah has her own film studio, radio network, O magazine, The Oprah Magazine, books written by her, investments and a reputation that help her go through everything with her head held high. She is also known as a philanthropist and one of the most influential and respected American women.
3. Robert Smith
Condition - $ 5 billion
The top 3 richest black billionaires are discovered by former Goldman Sachs banker, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partner, a company with more than $ 30 billion in assets. She specializes in private equity and venture capital, technology startups, and software development.
According to Forbes, Smith is worth about $ 5 billion. The name Robert Smith can also be found on the list of the 100 Greatest Minds of Modern Business.
He actively participates in charity events and has received numerous awards for his philanthropic work in the field of education. One of his largest donations is $ 50 million, which Smith transferred to Cornell University, where he once studied.
2. Mike Adenuga
Condition - $ 9 billion
While studying at the University of Adenuga, he worked as a taxi driver to raise money for his studies. Through many clever decisions, he became the most respected and wealthy man in Nigeria. His main interests are in oil, real estate, banking and telecommunications.
Adenuga owns Conoil Proroduction, one of the largest oil companies in the Nigeria Delta.Despite all the money laundering rumors and millions of dollars in debt his company faced a few years ago, he is still one of the best entrepreneurs and richest man in Africa.
1. Aliko Dangote
Condition - $ 12 billion
The richest black man in the world made his fortune by founding the largest African cement company. Aliko Dangote is also involved in the production of sugar, salt, flour, beverages and packaged foods.
His personal fortune is greater than the combined budget of four African countries at once:
- Somalia,
- Liberia,
- Cape Verde,
- Sao Tome.
Aliko is not a typical African businessman, he does not "stick out" his wealth with the help of national costumes, lavishly decorated with jewelry, but appears in public in elegant business suits. By inviting guests home, the billionaire can serve dishes on the table himself.
No stranger to Dangote and charitable causes, he donated nearly $ 1 million to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa.
Sources also say he is interested in buying English football club Arsenal.