In Forbes’ prestigious World Billionaires list, American actor and media tycoon Tyler Perry and Barbados’ national hero and worldwide superstar Rihanna Fenty share the spotlight as they rank 14th out of 23 black billionaires.
A record-breaking 3,028 billionaires with a total worth of $16.1 trillion are on the 2025 list, which was unveiled on April 1. Despite making up only 0.8% of the total, black billionaires are a powerful group of innovators. With a $23.9 billion fortune powered by the completion of Africa’s largest oil refinery in 2024, Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote is leading the race and is now the richest black billionaire.
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With $3.5 billion, basketball superstar Michael Jordan is in seventh place, mostly because of his historic selling of a Charlotte Hornets share. Patrice Motsepe and Oprah Winfrey each have $3 billion, which puts them in seventh position. LeBron James and Tiger Woods are behind Perry and Rihanna with $1.3 billion apiece, while music mogul Jay-Z takes tenth place.
While Perry’s extensive film and television career further emphasizes his media domination, Rihanna’s multidimensional empire, spanning music, fashion, and beauty, solidifies her as an enduring impact. Collectively, these black business titans stand for innovation, aspiration, and global success.
