Richest Black Women In The World – Forbes 2018

According to Forbes, these are the wealthiest black women in the world.

Brief Overview

For years Oprah Winfrey had the crown as the richest and only billionaire black woman; but everything changed far back in 2014 when Isabel Dos Santos overtook her. Now Oprah is ranked second wealthiest black woman in the world (Oprah Winfrey has taken back her title as the most richest black woman in the world).

3. Folorunsho Alakija – Net Worth: $1.7 Billion

Nationality: Nigerian

Source of wealth: Fashion and Oil

Folorunsho Alakija Is The first female billionaire from Nigeria and the 14th Richest person in Nigeria and the vice chair of Famfa Oil. Her first company was a fashion label that catered to Nigeria’s elite women, including the wife of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who awarded Alakija’s company an oil prospecting license.

Folorunsho Alakija | Forbes

• Folorunsho Alakija is vice chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company with a stake in Agbami Oilfield, a prolific offshore asset.
• Famfa Oil’s partners include Chevron and Petrobras.
• Alakija’s first company was a fashion label whose customers included the wife of former Nigerian president Ibrahim Babangida.
• The Nigerian government awarded Alakija’s company an oil prospecting license in 1993, which was later converted to an oil mining lease.
• The Agbami field has been operating since 2008; Famfa Oil says it will likely operate through 2024.

2. Isabel dos Santos – Net Worth: $2.2 Billion

Nationality: Angolan

Source of wealth: Investments

The oldest daughter of Angola’s outgoing president and Africa’s richest woman owns a significant stake in Unitel, Angola’s largest mobile phone network, and a stake in Banco BIC. Outside Angola, she owns nearly 6% of oil and gas firm Galp Energia (alongside Portuguese billionaire Americo Amorim), and nearly 19% of Banco BPI, the country’s fourth-largest bank..

She is currently the richest black woman and richest woman in Africa. She is also highly ranked on the Richest People in Africa List

Isabel Dos Santos | Forbes

• Isabel dos Santos is the oldest daughter of Angola’s longtime former president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who stepped down in fall 2017.
• Her father 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 research found that while president, Isabel’s father transferred to her stakes in several Angolan companies, including banks and a telecom firm.
• She purchased shares of Portuguese companies, including telecom and cable TV firm Nos SGPS.
• A spokesperson for Isabel told Forbes that she “is an independent business woman and a private investor representing solely her own interests.”

1. Oprah Winfrey – Net Worth: $2.7 Billion

Nationality: American

Source of wealth: Media

Oprah Winfrey is the richest African American. The majority of her net worth was generated from her 25 year profitable daytime TV show.

Her OWN network had its most-watched year in 2016, but the bulk of Winfrey’s wealth is still derived from her talk show years.

Oprah Winfrey | Forbes

• Oprah Winfrey has transitioned her hit talk show into a media and business empire.
• Winfrey parlayed her role as a news anchor into a 25-year talk show gig. Reinvested, the profits from her show add up to nearly $2 billion.
• In 2011, Winfrey bid goodbye to her show and launched cable channel OWN. Her 25.5% of the network is worth about $75 million.
• The ‘Oprah effect’ has spread to Weight Watchers: she owns an 8% stake in the company and acts as a brand ambassador.
• She has donated $425 million throughout her career, including over $100 million to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.