In a world dominated by male and white billionaires, a few Black women have reached remarkable success. This article highlights the only Black female billionaires, including Oprah Winfrey, whose journey from media mogul to philanthropist inspires millions.
The black women on this list have been able to break glass ceilings, some have diligently built on the legacy of their parents. These women of African descent have proven that wealth does not recognize gender, race or geography. Despite the multiplicity of roles, these women have pulled through to an enviable height.
Meet the Black Female Billionaires in the World
1. Oprah Winfrey (Net worth: $3 billion)
Born in 1954, Mississippi, US. Oprah Winfrey is the richest black woman alive with a net worth of $3 billion USD.
When Oprah was in her 20s she had a job as a news anchor, but, she was fired for being too emotional about the stories she was reporting. Eventually, she created one of the most popular talk-shows known today as The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986.
In 2011, Winfrey launched her own cable channel Opera Winfrey Network (OWN). Her 25.5% of the network is currently worth about $75 million.
In June 2018, she signed a deal with Apple’s streaming service to create original content that will include a book club, documentaries and TV series.
The deal marks one of the first such agreements struck between Apple and a content creator.
2. Rihanna (Net worth: $1.4 billion)
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, popularly known as Rihanna, is a Barbadian singer. She came to the limelight in 2005 after releasing the single Pon de Replay. Her years in music have made her a pop icon and an influential recording artist. In 2006, she became an actor. In 2010, Rihanna ventured into business and launched her first fragrance line, Reb’l Fleur.
With a net worth of $1.4 billion, Rihanna holds the second spot on the list of the world’s richest black women.
The bulk of her fortune comes from the value of Fenty Beauty, of which she owns 50%, her stake in her lingerie company, Savage x Fenty, worth an estimated $270 million, and her earnings from her career as a chart-topping musician and actress.
Rihanna also holds the title of the world’s wealthiest Black female musician.
Honorable Mentions
Isabel dos Santos (Net worth: $1.4 billion)
Isabel Dos Santos Aka “The Princess”, is the eldest daughter of former Angolan president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the country from 1979 to 2017, was once Africa’s richest woman.
While her dad was president, He made her head of Sonangol, Angola’s state oil firm, in June 2016, but Angola’s new president removed her from that role in November 2017.
Forbes removed her from the billionaire ranks in January 2021 following asset freezes.
Folorunsho Alakija (Net worth: $1 billion)
Folorunsho Alakija, a Nigerian billionaire business magnate, had a net worth of $1 billion in 2020, according to Forbes.
Folorunsho is the founder of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions and the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, a Nigerian oil exploration company with a stake in Agbami Oilfield, a prolific offshore asset.
Alakija’s company was awarded an oil prospecting license in 1993 by the Nigerian government, which was later converted to an oil mining lease. Her Famfa Oil’s partners include Chevron and Petrobras and she is also into the real estate and printing industries.
Last Modified: January, 2025.
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