Did you know that there are only 8 black billionaires in America? In this post, you will learn about the 7 most prominent and wealthy black people that live in America! These people worked so hard for years on end to become successful with uneven playing fields.
You may already know that when it comes to becoming rich in America, it is simply harder for people of color! It’s so much easier for white people to make money than black people which is why there are only 7 black billionaires while there are 607 white billionaires in America!
The Only 8 Black Billionaires In America In 2021
Did you know that there are currently 614 billionaires in America? You better believe it! What’s more interesting is that only 8 of those 614 billionaires are actually black! Read more to find out if your favorite African American person is on the list!
1. Rihanna
Being the first black woman alive to head a luxury brand, Robyn Rihanna Fenty’s net worth as of 2021 is 1.7 billion dollars! Born in February 1988, the Barbados singer rose to fame when she was discovered by an American music producer called Evan Rogers!
Rihanna didn’t become a billionaire by singing, she is actually the founder of the Fenty Fashion house and the Fenty beauty brand! Rihanna is also the founder of the Clara Lionel Foundation which supports and funds education initiatives and emergency response to natural disasters.
2. Jay-Z
With over 1.4 billion dollars in his pockets, JZ ( Shawn Corey Carter) is an American singer, rapper, and music producer. JZ is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists in history! He co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella-Records in 1995 and was also the CEO of Def Jam Records.
He is married to the singer/songwriter/actress Beyonce, they have 3 beautiful kids together and they are living the life of their dreams. JZ is also the founder of the clothing brand Rocawear, luxury sports bar chain, Monogram, and Roc Nation.
3. Oprah Winfrey
With over 2.6 billion dollars in her arsenal, Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American actress, author, producer, and television talk show host! She is well known for being very successful in so many different endeavors! She is actually the first African American woman to own a production company!
Oprah is also known for helping schools in the black community and funds a lot of different battered women shelters across America! Oprah also donated $10 million dollars to the victims of Hurricane Katrina to help them rebuild their homes.
4. Kanye West
Bon is 1977, Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, record producer, and fashion designer whose net worth is 1.8 billion dollars! He started his rapping career back in the early 2000s and produced his first album in 2004. He later founded his own record label called Good Music in late 2004.
Kayne West is also the founder and owner of the fashion sneaker brand Yeezy. West also collaborated with other renowned fashion brands such as Gap, Nike, Louis Vuitton, and A.P.C. Kanye has also supported over 20 charities and foundations during his careers such as the common ground foundation, doctors without borders, food bank for new york city, and Habitat for humanity!
5. Tyler Perry
You may already know him as Madea from Madea Family Reunion, Emmit Perry jr is one of the wealthiest black men in America! Tyler Perry’s net worth is 1 billion dollars as of 2021! Tyler Perry is a movie producer and also an actor as well. He is the owner of Tyler Perry Studios.
Perry started off his career with only $12.000 dollars in his pocket! He wrote, produced, and starred in his first show at the Atlanta theater in 1992. He is also a renowned screenwriter and director, and through his own charity foundation called the Perry Foundation, Tyler perry has donated millions of dollars to help rid the world of homelessness and civil rights causes.
6. David Steward
As chairman and founder of the World Wide Technology company, David L. Steward’s net worth as of 2021 is 5.8 billion dollars! Coming from a humble background, son of a homemaker and mechanic, David had very hard upbringings.
From poverty and segregation, David help his ground and went on to become one of the richest men in the world! He started World Wide Technology in 1990 which is a global system that provides digital strategies, and supply chain solutions to large public and private organizations such as Verizon.
7. Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffery Johnson, also known as MJ was one of the most successful and famous basketball players between the 1980s and 1990s! Jordan played 15 seasons with the NBA and won 6 championships! After making over 55 million dollars while playing for the NBA, he went on to help create one of the famous sneakers brand Air Jordan.
He didn’t stop there, he went on to invest his millions in a basketball team called the Charlotte Hornets. He also earned a lot of millions from corporate partners like Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade. Jordan has also donated over $10 million dollars to help open clinics in North Carolina.
8. Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith’s net worth as of 2021 is currently standing at 6.7 billion dollars! He is the current CEO of Vista Equity Partners which is one of the largest equity firms in the United States! Before becoming the CEO of Vista, Robert worked at Goldman Sachs!
Not only is he rich, but he is also a helper in the black community as well! He is mostly known for paying off student loans for an entire class which amounted to 34 million dollars in September 2019 for over 400 students! Robert F. Smith is also a philanthropist, chemical engineer, and investor.