This article contains the top 10 richest African Americans. After its abolition, they have been one of the poorest ethnic groups in the USA. They have been an inner part of the USA. 

1) Oprah Winfrey: The Richest Africa American Woman

Net Worth: $2.8 Billion

Oprah Winfrey is the richest female celebrity and one of the African American billionaires. Her date of birth is 29th January 1954. She is an actress, producer, television host, and philanthropist. She was the first woman billionaire in this region with her own channels and shares of broadcasting rights. Her recent efforts for the cause of the poor in America and also in Africa have made her the greatest philanthropist in the world and ever in history. She was the host of a TV chat show ‘People are Talking’ from 1976 to 1984 and made it a hit. Then she started ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in 1986 and made it a phenomenon in American TV history.

2) Michael Jordan –$650 million

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly the greatest basketball player ever and one of the richest black billionaires. His date of birth is 17th February 1963. He lives in Florida. His career highlights include the six titles he won in NBA while playing for the Chicago Bulls. He is sometimes credited for spreading the popularity of the NBA in America as well as outside the US. According to Forbes, he has earned an estimated $80 million in earnings from endorsements and royalties from companies like Nike, Hanes, Gatorade, 2K Sports, Presbyterian Healthcare, Upper Deck, and Five Star Fragrances. He is also a staking owner in Charlotte Bobcats with his stakes standing at 80%. His significant earnings come from royalties with sales of Jordan Brand which is a division of Nike. Recently, he has been in news for buying houses in Florida and North Carolina.

3) Sean Combs – $550 million

Perhaps the most celebrated richest rapper and musician in America, Sean Combs is known by his stage name ‘Diddy’. His date of birth is 8th April 1946. He started his career as a rapper and a recording producer. This famous African American earns close to $50 million annually (esteemed by Forbes) thanks to his music revenues, other business ventures, and clothing lines. His debut with “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” became a hit and topped the charts and launched him into the music industry. His net worth makes him the richest. He is known to all.

4) Robert Johnson-$550 Million

Robert Luis Johnson is the first richest African American to be listed on Forbes List. He was the owner of Entertainment Television (BET) which is a cable network based in Washington, DC targets AA audiences in the USA. He later sold BET to Viacom for $3 Billion in the year 2001, which is a mass media company in the cable and TV industry. With cash earned, the wealthiest African Americans began investing in Hotels and purchasing controlling stakes in NBA teams. He also invested in banks, real estate, restaurants, and recording studios.

5) Tiger Woods – $500 million

Tiger Woods is the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2013 according to Forbes. Earning a whopping $65 million in endorsements and $13.1 million in salary/prize money, he also regained the number 1 Golf rankings. He was born on 30th December 1975. He was on track winning majors until 2009 when his infidelity scandal broke out and then he was subjected to intense tabloid scrutiny and public embarrassment. At one point of time in 2011, he slipped to world rank 58 in Golf. He lost sponsors like Accenture, Gillette, and Gatorade during this time. With his regaining of top spot in world rankings, his interest is in several new sponsors.

6) Earvin Johnson Jr. – $500 million

Earvin Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan, and is known as a Magic Johnson basketball player. He was born on 14th August 1959. After contracting HIV, he retired from basketball and started his new journey as an entrepreneur by launching Magic John Enterprises. Johnson owned several Starbuck stores in urban areas of America in partnership with Starbucks. In 2010, he sold the partnership for $75 million. He also sold his stakes in ‘The Lakers’ for reportedly $50-60 million to Patrick Soon-Shiong.

7) Shawn Carter aka Jay- $450 million

Shawn Carter, known more popularly by his stage name Jay-Z, is an African American rapper, richest hip hop artist, and record producer. He had received seventeen Grammy Awards. He has sold 50 million albums worldwide. Besides his music career, he is also an entrepreneur and holds stakes in several businesses in America. He holds stakes in the 40/40 Club chain, New Jersey Nets, and in ad firm Translation.

8) William Henry Cosby – $450 million

He was born on 12th July 1937. More popularly known by his stage name Bill Cosby, he is a comedian, author, actor, musician, television producer, educator, and activist. He started his own comedy show called “The Bill Cosby Show” which was a hit in America making him the richest and most famous. He also found a place in ‘the 100 Greatest African Americans’.

9) Sheila Johnson- $400 million

Cofounder of African American Entertainment television along with ex-husband Robert Johnson, Sheila Johnson has around $400 million. She was born on 25th January 1949.

10) Roy Donahue Peebles- $350 Million

Roy Donahue “Don” Peebles is also a political activist author and in addition to being entrepreneur. He runs a company named ‘The Peebles Corporation’ which develops properties across America. He was born on the 2nd March in 1960. His residence is in Coral Gables, Florida. You can find a 30 minutes interview in New York Times.

You Should Know This:

The slavery of black people was famous in 18 century.  Almost all of the above richest African American people are philanthropists and donated a large sum of their wealth to charities.