Forbes Lists Wealthiest Black Americans

Forbes ranks the top earning Black Americans. Who made #1?

Oprah Winfrey Net worth: $2.7 Billion - Oprah Winfrey, top-rated talk show diva, comes up on top of Forbes’ List of the Wealthiest Black Americans. Her company, Harpo Productions, is behind such successes as “Dr. Phil” and “Rachael Ray” and her network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, will make its debut next year.

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Oprah Winfrey Net worth: $2.7 Billion - Oprah Winfrey, top-rated talk show diva, comes up on top of Forbes’ List of the Wealthiest Black Americans. Her company, Harpo Productions, is behind such successes as “Dr. Phil” and “Rachael Ray” and her network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, will make its debut next year.

Tiger Woods Net worth: $600 Million - Golf great Tiger Woods, who has earned $84 million just from his career winnings, comes in at a distant second. Woods made the rest of his millions from his endorsement deals with companies including Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Accenture and AT&T.

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Tiger Woods Net worth: $600 Million - Golf great Tiger Woods, who has earned $84 million just from his career winnings, comes in at a distant second. Woods made the rest of his millions from his endorsement deals with companies including Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Accenture and AT&T.

Bob Johnson Announces Haitian Factories - BET founder Bob Johnson announced a project for factories that will build construction materials in Haiti. According to a press release, the two factories will build earthquake- and hurricane-resistant panels for housing in Haiti’s quake-battered capital and the city of Cap-Haitien. Johnson announced the project Wednesday during a visit to Port-au-Prince, where he met with Haitian President Rene Preval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.

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Robert Johnson Net worth: $550 Million - BET Founder Robert Johnson comes in third on this year’s list. In 2000, he became the first African-American billionaire after selling the network to Viacom. When he got divorced from his wife Sheila Johnson in 2002, the settlement cut into his fortune. Johnson continues to thrive in his business ventures, which includes ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team.

Michael Jordan Net worth: $525 Million - Former NBA player and future Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan is fourth on the list. His brand, which includes his popular basketball sneaker with Nike, along with endorsement deals with Gatorade, Hanes and Upper Deck have contributed to his fortune. He is also a part owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

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Michael Jordan Net worth: $525 Million - Former NBA player and future Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan is fourth on the list. His brand, which includes his popular basketball sneaker with Nike, along with endorsement deals with Gatorade, Hanes and Upper Deck have contributed to his fortune. He is also a part owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

“Magic” Johnson, Jr. Net worth: $500 Million - NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson, a successful entrepreneur known for bringing big business to majority-Black areas, is at number five. He has partnerships with Starbucks, T.G.I. Fridays and AMC Theatres.

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“Magic” Johnson, Jr. Net worth: $500 Million - NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson, a successful entrepreneur known for bringing big business to majority-Black areas, is at number five. He has partnerships with Starbucks, T.G.I. Fridays and AMC Theatres.

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Bill Cosby Net worth: $450 Million - Comedian Bill Cosby comes in at number six on the list. His hit sitcom “The Cosby Show” still earns him millions in its run in syndication. The 71-year-old still does stand-up comedy and supports various charities along with wife Camille.

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Bill Cosby Net worth: $450 Million - Comedian Bill Cosby comes in at number six on the list. His hit sitcom “The Cosby Show” still earns him millions in its run in syndication. The 71-year-old still does stand-up comedy and supports various charities along with wife Camille.

Sheila Johnson Net worth: $400 Million - Businesswoman Sheila Johnson, number seven on the list, owns a stake in several D.C. area sports teams: the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics.

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Sheila Johnson Net worth: $400 Million - Businesswoman Sheila Johnson, number seven on the list, owns a stake in several D.C. area sports teams: the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics.

Berry Gordy Jr. Net worth: $325 Million - Motown founder Berry Gordy landed at number nine on the list. After managing such legendaries as the Jackson 5, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder, he sold the record label in 1988 for $61 million, reports Forbes. He also sold Jobete Music Corp. to EMI Music Publishing for more than $300 million.

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Berry Gordy Jr. Net worth: $325 Million - Motown founder Berry Gordy landed at number nine on the list. After managing such legendaries as the Jackson 5, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder, he sold the record label in 1988 for $61 million, reports Forbes. He also sold Jobete Music Corp. to EMI Music Publishing for more than $300 million.

Don King Net Worth: $290 Million - Renowned boxing promoter, Don King, comes in at No. 11 on the list. King promoted such legendary bouts as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” a fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, and the 1997 fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, which grossed $110 million, according to Forbes.

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Don King Net Worth: $290 Million - Renowned boxing promoter, Don King, comes in at No. 11 on the list. King promoted such legendary bouts as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” a fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, and the 1997 fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, which grossed $110 million, according to Forbes.

Janice Bryant Howroyd & Family Net worth: $250 - No. 12, Janice Howroyd, started a staffing firm in 1978 with just $1,500. Today, her employment services agency makes almost $1 billion in revenues each year.

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Janice Bryant Howroyd & Family Net worth: $250 - No. 12, Janice Howroyd, started a staffing firm in 1978 with just $1,500. Today, her employment services agency makes almost $1 billion in revenues each year.

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Jay-Z’s Losing Money - It looks like the recession is hitting everyone hard—even rap mogul Jay-Z. According to the NY Post, while still successful overall, the rapper has seen some of his million-dollar investments take a nose dive. Cases in point: his group borrowed $30 million to buy a building to develop; but ended up scrapping the plan and selling the loan for $19.5 million. And in 2007, he borrowed $52 million to buy land for his luxury J Hotel, but left the investment and sued his lender for interest payments.

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Jay-Z Net worth: $150 Million - Grammy-winning rapper and businessman Jay-Z is No. 17 on the list. In addition to selling more than $25 million albums, he also co-owns the 40/40 Club, a sports bar, and is one of the owners of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. His wife, Beyonce, is worth an estimated $115 million.

Kobe Bryant Net worth: $140 Million - Basketball star and former MVP Kobe Bryant comes in at No.18 on the list. Several endorsement deals account for a lot of his earnings, reports Forbes. Bryant is also one of the owners of Olimpia Milano, an Italian basketball team.

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Kobe Bryant Net worth: $140 Million - Basketball star and former MVP Kobe Bryant comes in at No.18 on the list. Several endorsement deals account for a lot of his earnings, reports Forbes. Bryant is also one of the owners of Olimpia Milano, an Italian basketball team.

Shaquille O’Neal Net worth: $130 Million - NBA big man Shaquille O’Neal came into the league in 1992 with the biggest rookie contract ever at the time: $41 million for seven years. O’Neal holds endorsements with Icy Hot, Vitamin Water and has investments in 150 car washes and properties in California, Florida and New Jersey, reports Forbes.

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Shaquille O’Neal Net worth: $130 Million - NBA big man Shaquille O’Neal came into the league in 1992 with the biggest rookie contract ever at the time: $41 million for seven years. O’Neal holds endorsements with Icy Hot, Vitamin Water and has investments in 150 car washes and properties in California, Florida and New Jersey, reports Forbes.