Forbes: Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful black woman in the world according to Forbes.

Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

The 2018 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list celebrates the icons, innovators and instigators who are using their voice to change power structures and create a lasting impact.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful black woman in the world. She is closely followed by Rosalind brewer. Beyonce knowles, Shonda Rhimes and Serena Williams make up the top five.

Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde is the inly African woman that made this years Forbes list of most powerful black women in the world.

1. Oprah Winfrey (United States)

Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

Oprah is the most powerful black woman in the world and the 20th most powerful woman in the world.

Winfrey currently has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion making her the richest black woman in the world.

She has donated $425 million throughout her career, including over $100 million to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

2. Rosalind Brewer (United States)

Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

Brewer is the second most powerful black woman in the world and the 34th most powerful woman in the world.

Brewer is the first woman and first African-American to serve as COO of Starbucks.
As COO, She helped Starbucks navigate a trying year as it faced nationwide protests following the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia store location.

Before Starbucks, Brewer was CEO of Sam’s Club which she helped bring into the modern day with services such as advance online ordering of groceries.

3. Beyonce Knowles (United States)

Beyonce Knowles is the third most powerful black woman in the world and the 50th most powerful woman in the world.

Beyoncé is also occupies No. 3 spot on Forbes’ highest paid female musicians list, raking in $60 million in 2018.

Her On The Run II stadium tour with husband Jay-Z grossed roughly $5 million per night — pulling in a total of more than $250 million.

4. Shonda Rhimes (United States)

Shonda Rhimes is the fourth most powerful black woman in the world and the 74th most powerful woman in the world.
Rhimes is the creator and executive producer of ABC hits like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal,”.

The self-proclaimed “highest-paid showrunner” in 2017 made history as one of the first showrunners to ink an exclusive deal for atleast $300 million with Netflix.

Before the lucrative deal with Netflix, the producer signed a four-year deal with ABC for $10 million each year.

5. Serena Williams (United States)

Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

The 23-time Grand Slam winner and 5th most powerful black woman in the world is known not only for her prowess on the courts but for her business acumen as well.

She launched her own clothing line, Serena, in May of this year and bought a stake in the Miami Dolphins alongside her sister in 2009.

She currently ranks as the highest paid female athlete for the third straight year with earnings of $18.1 million thanks to her endorsement portfolio.

6. Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia)

Most Powerful Black Women in the World, 2018

Sahle is the 6th most powerful black woman in the world, the most powerful woman in Africa and the 97th most powerful woman in the world.

In October 2018, Sahle-Work Zewde became Ethiopia’s first woman president and the only serving female head of state in Africa.
A seasoned diplomat and veteran of the United Nations, Zewde was appointed with a unanimous vote by parliament.

The Methodology

Four metrics are used each year: money (either net worth, company revenues, assets, or GDP); media presence; spheres of influence; and impact, analyzed both within the context of each woman’s field (media, technology, business, philanthropy/NGOs, politics, and finance) and outside of it. This year, with the help of social insight platform Captiv8, we included social media power in our media presence and influence score

Uzonna Anele
Uzonna Anele
Anele is a web developer and a Pan-Africanist who believes bad leadership is the only thing keeping Africa from taking its rightful place in the modern world.

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