Meet the Most Powerful Black Billionaires in the U.S.
Their money is long, and their influence is unstoppable. They hail from Houston, Lagos, Bed-Stuy, Haiti, and rural Mississippi, and they’re innovating medicine, technology, finance, and entertainment. Meet some of the top Black billionaires in the U.S. who aren't only shaping their respective industries but also shifting the culture entirely.
In a cultural landscape where conversations around wealth, access, and legacy often feel charged, these billionaires are living proof that prosperity can thrive across every sector and come from a multitude of environments.
"It’s my biggest milestone," LeBron James said to GQ when asked about whether he’d like to be a billionaire back in 2014. "Obviously. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited." Since then, he's made the list multiple times.
That excitement came full circle in 2022, when James reached the milestone—proving that a kid with undeniable talent, whose childhood was spent moving from place to place as his mom scraped by, can still beat the odds.
Simply put: Black billionaires are quite literally built differently. Ahead, check out the top Black Billionaires in the U.S.
Robert F. Smith
Est. Net Worth: $10.8 billion
Vista Equity Partners' visionary founder, Robert F. Smith, revolutionized private equity by specializing in software firms, turning investments into billions. Though his philanthropy efforts deserve equal attention. In 2019, he paid off Morehouse College's entire graduating class debt in 2019, and ignited a national conversation on reparative wealth. That same year, he also became the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.
Michael Jordan
Est. Net Worth: $3.5 billion
During his iconic career, Michael Jordan transcended basketball to become the world's most famous athlete, with his salary during his career totalling $90 million. He was known for fronting brands like Hanes, Gatorade, and, of course, Nike. Now Nike's Jordan Brand generates $7 billion annually. His post-retirement portfolio doesn’t end there: Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets ownership (sold for $3 billion in 2023) and endorsements have built an empire rivaling active star players.
Oprah Winfrey
Est. Net Worth: $3 billion
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” ran nationally syndicated for 25 years, but the media icon never rested on her laurels. From top acting roles and lucrative partnerships to brand deals and charity work, Oprah Gail Winfrey seemingly never sleeps. In 2011, she launched OWN, her cable network, and sold her majority stake for an estimated $36.5 million to Discovery in 2020. According to Forbes, she remains the richest Black woman on the planet. With that kind of drive and tact, it’s no surprise Winfrey has been a billionaire since 2003.
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Sean “Jay-Z” Carter
Est. Net Worth: $2.5 billion
As hip-hop's first billionaire, the wealthiest rapper-entrepreneur of all time has been a mainstay on Forbes’s Billionaires list since 2019. From Roc-a-wear to lucrative partnerships with Bacardi and creating and selling his own cognac, D’Usse, for $750 million in 2023, Jay’s talent for business is as prized as his bars. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — there’s also Tidal, of which he sold his majority stake in 2021, Roc Nation, and an art collection with an estimated worth of $70 million.
Adebayo Ogunlesi
Est. Net Worth: $2.2 billion
As the chairman and cofounder of Global Infrastructure Partners, Adebayo Ogunlesi has built one of the world’s leading infrastructure investment platforms, spanning airports, energy, and transport assets. Forbes now pegs his net worth in the mid–single digit billions, ranking him among the world’s top billionaires. A former Credit Suisse executive and Goldman Sachs board member, the Nigerian-born U.S.-based investment banker and lawyer is a defining figure in global infrastructure finance.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.
Est. Net Worth: $1.5 billion
The iconic Magic Johnson first joined Forbes' Billionaires List in October 2023. Despite his retirement from the NBA decades ago, Johnson has proved his business acumen is just as skilled as his game. His success off the court is through his Magic Johnson Enterprises. His portfolio includes majority ownership in EquiTrust Life Insurance, which he acquired in 2015, and a minority stake in the Washington Commanders, Dodgers, Sparks, and LAFC. The ex-Lakers star built his fortune post-NBA through savvy enterprises.
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Tope Awotona
Est. Net Worth: $1.4 billion
While the name Tope Awotona may not be as widely recognized as Oprah Winfrey or Magic Johnson, if you’ve ever used his company Calendly to schedule a meeting, then you know his work. Through his software company, the Lagos-born American entrepreneur innovated a space ruled by conventional (and cumbersome) scheduling platforms. Whether you’re the CEO of a major company or a budding entrepreneur, Calendly completely disrupted the business landscape, making things easier.
Tyler Perry
Est. Net Worth: $1.4 billion
Tyler Perry joined the billionaires club in 2020 after earning over $1.4 billion in pretax income since 2005, driven by owning his films, TV shows, and Atlanta’s 330‑acre Tyler Perry Studios. His wealth includes a stake in BET+, hundreds of millions in cash and investments, and luxury real estate, while his philanthropy spans donations to Atlanta seniors, grocery giveaways, and funding Rayshard Brooks’ funeral and his children’s education.
Tiger Woods
Est. Net Worth: $1.4 billion
In June of 2022, Forbes crowned Tiger Woods with billionaire status. The PGA Tour legend is the second active athlete to achieve recognition after LeBron James. His $1.4 billion net worth stems from $1.7 billion earned over 27 years through championships and endorsements like Nike and Gatorade. The golf icon joins retired peers Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in this elite club.
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Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty
Est. Net Worth: $1.4 billion
The singer-turned-business mogul is no stranger to the Billionaire’s list, after becoming one for the first time in 2021, with a then $1.7 billion net worth from her Fenty Beauty brand (launched in 2017). Through Rihanna's Savage x Fenty lingerie brand and 2024 Fenty Hair expansion, plus a storied career as an entertainer, her fortune has remained on lock. Though it's her cosmetics company, co-owned with the French luxury conglomerate LVMH, that’s the star of her portfolio.
LeBron James
Est. Net Worth: $1.3 billion
LeBron James became the first active NBA player billionaire in June 2022, with a $1.3 billion net worth fueled by $121 million in 2021 earnings, endorsements (Nike, PepsiCo), and ventures like SpringHill Company and stakes in Beats by Dre and Liverpool FC. Drafted by Cleveland in 2003, his LeBron James Family Foundation aids kids' education. Partner Maverick Carter praises his dedication as his NBA career nears its end.
Herriot Tabuteau
Est. Net Worth: $1.1 billion
“If you do things exactly the same way as everybody else, you’re going to have the same outcomes as everybody else,” Herriot Tabuteau said in a 2025 interview with Forbes. While the quote was regarding his company, Axsome Therapeutics, considering his remarkable career, it’s clear he’s prided himself on going against the grain. Tabuteau was born in Haiti and brought to the U.S. at 9 years old. His drug company was founded in 2012 to help Americans who suffer from CNS conditions like depression and Alzheimer's disease.
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Sheila Johnson
Est. Net Worth: $1.1 billion
Sheila Johnson co-founded our very own BET with her husband, Robert Johnson, in 1979. Since selling the company for $3 billion in 2001, Sheila’s entrepreneurial prowess has only expanded through her hospitality firm, Salamander Collection, which has hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. and Montego Bay. She also owns a stake in several D.C. area sports teams, including the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and the Washington Mystics.
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter
Est. Net Worth: $1 billion
With 35 Grammy wins and 99 nominations, Beyoncé is the most-awarded artist in the history of the awards. But it was only last year that Queen Bey made it into the Billionaires’ Club. After a stunning year of commercial success, thanks to her “Cowboy Carter” album era, she finally reached the billion-dollar marker.
