The Richest Black Women In The World 2019

Out of an estimated population of over three trillion black and colored women in the world, only three black women made waves into the 2019 billionaires club. In recent times, Black women across the globe have been blazing trails in music, media, health, technology, finance, and even business conglomerate. This new turn has brought focus and spotlight on women of color especially African and black American women.

More so, the spotlights have geared more black women to thread successful parts in various professions especially business. The likes of Rihanna who ventured into beauty and fashion business creating Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty fashion lingerie line – a globally celebrated brand, have accelerated from being just a celebrated musician to the richest female musician in the world with a net worth of $600 million. Also, lawn tennis icon Serena William who is a visible black woman has also made it as one of America’s Richest Self-Made Women with an estimated net worth of $225 million.

In as much as black women across the globe keep soaring in wealth, some of these rich women have distinguished themselves by estimating their wealth in billions of dollars. Three of these women who are of African descent and of which one is a Nigerian are the only billionaires amongst the richest black women in the world. They are the only women who made it into the Forbes list of Richest black people in the world with their estimated net worth ranging from $2.6  to $1.1 billion dollars. Cumulatively, these richest black women in the world 2019 are worth over $6 billion. However, they are not the only rich black women in the world, as other self-made and successful black women across the globe have acquired wealth estimated in millions of dollars.

Who are these women? How did they become the richest black women in the world? Well, let’s get to know them and see how they became so wealthy.

The Richest Black Women In The World 2019

1. OPRAH WINFREY – $2.6 Billion

Beautiful African American media tycoon Ophrah Winfrey is currently the Richest black woman in the world with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion. The media personality was born on 29th, January 1954 to a single mother. She grew up in a very poor home living with her maternal grandmother who taught her how to read and write. In her teenage years, she was sent to stay with her father.

Winfrey’s leap into media started when she got a job as a co-anchor for an evening news program. She did well in moving the program forward and was made to anchor the day time news. Her excellence in speech writing and public speaking helped her in winning an oratory competition which provided her scholarship to college in  Tennessee state university where she studied communication.

After her college education, Ophra Winfrey went fully into media and started the Ophra Winfrey Show. The talk show grew to become the most celebrated and talked about the show in the world. However, the success recorded in her talk show sprang from the emotional and personal approach she infused in her show which changed the narrative of talk show biz.

Both accolades and criticism emerged from her talk show method with the former being of higher magnitude but she became famous and richer by the day, subsequently becoming the first black woman billionaire in the world in 2003. In later years, she became the only black billionaire in the world from 2004 to 2006 with an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion which also made her the richest self-made woman in America.

Over the years Oprah has grown her brand, started her own media network named Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), earned various recognitions including that of the world’s most influential woman. She scaled from a life of extreme poverty to that of wealth and fame currently leading the trail among the Richest Black Women in the world 2019.

Although Oprah is a very wealthy black woman she decided not to have children because her parenting brought pains to her in various ways. Some of these pains included been sexually abused at age seven by her uncle and housing. In a bit to overcome the abuse she ran away from home at age thirteen and ended up getting pregnant at fourteen years old. She lost the baby which she birthed prematurely due to her age and decided not to be a mother again.

In spite of all the setbacks faced by the billionaire, she forged ahead to be a force to be reckoned with in the world.

2. ISABEL DOS SANTOS – $2.3 Billion

Isabel Dos Santos is currently the second richest black woman in the world. She is also the current richest woman in Africa with an estimated net worth of $2.3 billion US dollars. The billionaire investor who is the eldest daughter of Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, the former President of Angola was born on 1st, April 1973. Her wealth springs forth from various businesses and investments she made in telecommunications, oil and gas, finance and hospitality.

After she completed her education at Kings College London, Isabel returned to Angola and started a hospitality business. As the business grew she diversified into media, owning 29% of shares in ZON multimedia company. Midway down the year 2012, she bought 20% stakes in Banco Blc Portuguese, making her one of the founding and board members of the nationalized bank. She went on to purchase Banco Fomento de Angola (BFA bank) from BPI for 28 million euros. This gave her controls of 51.9% of the bank’s capital. With her successes in finance, she created a telecommunication company called Unitel. To increase her holdings in telecom, the African billionaire bought shares in ZAP – a satellite TV operating company.

Following her business success, Isabel’s father who served as president of Angola for thirty-eight years (from 1979-2017 ) appointed her as the chairperson of Sonangol the countries owned oil company in 2016. She served in that position for just a year before the new Angolan president fired her.

The joint stakes, business holdings, and shares owned by Isabel Dos Santos sums up to make her one of the richest black women in the world 2019.

3. FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA – $1.1 Billion

Nigerian richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija is currently the third Richest black woman in the world. The billionaire was born on 15th, July 1951 in Lagos State, Nigeria. She was sent abroad to study for her primary and tertiary education respectively. In her years abroad, Mrs. Alakija learned fashion and design from the school of fashion in dental college London.

When she returned to Nigeria after the completion of her university education at central college London, she started working as an executive secretary. Some years later she worked at the now First city Monument bank before starting her fashion company. Due to her broad knowledge and expertise in fashion and design, her fashion house gained prominence across the country.

Folunrunsho Alakija kept building her prominent fashion house which is now a household name in the fashion industry in Nigeria, alongside acquiring an oil exploration license.  She ventured into oil and gas after her license was approved and started a Family company.

The billionaire businesswoman fortunes raised speedily as her oil and gas team struck oil in the country. Seeing how successful she could be from the oil and gas sector, the Nigerian government took ownership of fifty percent of her profits. Mrs. Alakija fought the government legally for twelve years and finally won the case in 2016 thereby taking full ownership of her profits.

Being a woman driven by success, she delved into print and digital media business. Also, she invested in real estate bringing her huge return on investment with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion dollars which is approximately three hundred and ninety-six billion, seven hundred ninety-two million Niara.

Her self acquired wealth has brought her into the female billionaire league, making her the third richest black woman in the world. Prior to her current enlistment as one of the richest black women in the world in 2019, Mrs. Alakija was once the richest woman of African descent in the world in 2014.

In 2015, Forbes magazine also recognized Folorunsho as the second most powerful woman in Africa. The Nigerian billionaire is married to Mr. Alakija and she’s a mother to four sons.

4. SHIELA JOHNSON – $820 Million

African American businesswoman and billionaire, Shiela Johnson was born on 25th, January 1949. She was formerly married to Robert L. Johnson from 1969 – 2002 and co-founded BET ( Black Entertainment Television) with him. After the divorce, Shiela sold off her shares and invested in real estate, hotels, and aviation.

Three years after the legal separation from her ex-husband, she married William T. Newman, the chief judge who presided over her divorce. That same year she founded her company Salamander Hospitality with tour and golf clubs, resorts, and hotels across Virginia and Florida.

The Washinton’s Mystic was sold to Lincolns holdings in 2005, with Shiela as the president of the company. This made her the first African American to be a joint owner and partner of such a huge sports franchise which consisted of the NBA, NHL and WNBA which are among the biggest and most celebrated sports franchises in the world.

Sheila Johnson who is currently seventy years of age is one of the richest black women in the world 2019 with an estimated net worth of  $820 million which was self-made from the various businesses she ventured into. Her devotedness to the betterment of her community has earned her accolades and awards.  She is one of the few black women recognized as rich self-made women in America.

5. RIHANNA  – $600 Million

RnB singer Robin Rihanna Fenty born on 20th, February 1988 is one of the richest black women in the world 2019. The black American singer, with an African origin who was born in her hometown Barbados, migrated to the United State in 2005, after signing a music deal with Def Jam Recordings.  Her debut into the music industry quickly brought fame and wealth her way because the musician was talented.

Rihanna’s debut studio albums quickly topped charts and paved ways for collaboration with other industry experts. In the following years, the superstar musician released amazing albums that won are nine Grammy Awards, over ten American Music Awards, numerous Billboard music awards and diverse rankings on Forbes and Time magazines amongst others.

The merited success she keeps experiencing in the American music industry which is the most prominent in the world has garnered her huge wealth over the years. This wealth is acquired from sold-out tours, music sales and most recently her beauty business.

The singer’s move into beauty business with her Fenty Beauty household name was spontaneous and unpredictable yet extremely benefitting and trendsetting. It changed the usual approach to beauty products in the industry as the singer cum businesswoman introduced a wider range of beauty products for women of color especially. This method was a game-changer as it was entirely different from that of the status quo.

Accolades, huge sales, and patronage from women across the globe were recorded by her company. Likewise, profits and an increase in net worth were recorded by Forbes making her the richest female musician in the world with an estimated net worth of $600 million. Her worth which exceeds that of fellow RnB queen Beyonce with 200 million dollars enlisted her on the American richest self-made women list by Forbes.

In sequence to the successful launch and groundbreaking records of her beauty business, Bad girl Riri launched Fenty fashion and Savage x Fenty lingerie lines respectively. Her brand is currently making waves globally with promises of continuous trendsetting and game-changing approaches in the individual business industries. The game-changing narrative Fenty brand promises is already in actualization with evidence in the inclusion of plus-size apparel in her fashion line.

Considering Rihanna’s mindset and approach to business can let one conclude that the singer is on her way to becoming one of the richest black billionaires in the world in due time.

6. BEYONCE  – $400 Million

The queen of American RnB, Beyonce Knowles, is not just one of the most influential people in the world but also one of the richest black women in the world. The multi-award-winning singer of African descent shot into limelight in 1977 as part of the “Destiny’s Child” crew. The crew gained prominence through their hit tracks “No No No”  and “Say My Name” which also brought awards. They kept topping musical charts and even won a Grammy award for their hit track “Survivor” which was released after some of the crew members left.

In 2006, the crew officially parted with Beyonce releasing her debut solo album. She grew her brand so well in the following years that she became the most successful, celebrated and applauded RnB female singer in the world. All through her years of musical prowess, the singer has received over twenty Grammy Awards, multiple AMV awards, the highest Billboard chart music topping amongst fellow male and female musicians.

Sold out tours and mind-blowing performance in the globally recognized Coachella musical festival, Netflix contracts, various deals, and successful album sales are not left out in the accomplishment of the icon. Each of these income streams sums up her current estimated wealth of $400 million.

In 2008, Beyonce married fellow musician Jay Z making them the foremost celebrated American power couple.

After four years of marriage and a miscarriage, she birthed her beautiful daughter Blue ivy on 7th, January 2012. A few years later the black American celebrity welcomed a set of twin boys and girls in 2017. She made the announcement of their birth on Instagram after a month, publicly disclosing their names as Rumi and Sir Carter.

Forbes magazine has continuously described her aforetime as the richest female musician until 2019 when Rihanna topped the list. Beyonce’s latest Lion King: The Gift album where she featured two of the Top 10 female musicians in Nigeria 2019 amongst other African musician have brought applauds and accolades to the wealthy superstar. Although she is currently not the richest female musician in the world nor the richest black musician her prowess in the music sphere globally is second to known. Beyonce remains the globally proclaimed queen of RnB.

7. JANICE BRYANT – $390 Million

African American entrepreneur and Billionaire, Janice Bryant Howroyd born on 1st, September 1952 is one of the richest black women in the world. The North Carolina Agriculture And Technical State University alumni rose into wealth from a desire to get a job she loves. It started in 1976 after she moved to Los Angeles to work as a temporary secretary for her brother-in-law in Billboard Magazine.

The exposure she got working with him garnered her adequate knowledge and she started her own company named the Act.1 Group in 1978.  The Act. 1 Group was an employment service company that provides employment, workforce management, and procurement solutions to Fortune 500 organizations, local and mid-market companies, and government agencies.

Janice grew the company into a billion-dollar company making her the first African American woman to own a billion-dollar company. With hard work, professionalism, and expertise, the billionaire woman has expanded the company which started in Beverly Hills California to various countries in the world making it a global brand.

As of May 2019, Forbes estimated Janice Howroyd to be worth $390 million enlisting her as one of the richest self-made women in America. The black woman billionaire is still blazing trails globally and scaling higher in the business sphere.

8. SERENA WILLIAMS – $225 Million

Black and beautiful Tennis star, Serena Williams is among the richest self-made women in America and one of the richest black women in the world 2019. The Wimbledon champion who has 23 grand slam winnings to her name is both a savvy entrepreneur and sports expert. Her prowess in the game of lawn tennis has resulted in her being labeled the Wimbledon champion of all time and one of the richest athletes in the world.

Serena Williams expertise in the tennis profession is second to none with a world breaking record of winning her 23rd grand slam title while pregnant. Her over $15 million income from endorsement and tennis have made her venture into various businesses increasing her net worth into an estimated $225 million.

The wealthy and talented black woman had a baby with Reddit cofounder in April 2017 and got married in a star-studded ceremony, November that same year. Although she has been experiencing some setbacks in her career since becoming a mom, she still remains a tennis champion and currently the richest self-made female athlete in America.

Williams career success is an inspiration to many black and colored women, athletes and tennis enthusiasts who intend following that career part. Her entrepreneurial nature which has made her wealthier than other female athletes is a positive trait that is absolutely worthy of emulation. With Serena’s desire to be involved in infrastructures and be a brand and not just a face, the world is anticipating greater ventures than the S by Serena direct to the consumer clothing line.

Although people say been a successful and wealthy black woman is almost impossible, these women have proved the saying to be false. Each of the richest black women on this list has made names for themselves in the world richest people club and also encouraged black women across the globe that they can be black, successful and rich.

A one time President of the world power has reckoned with one of these black billionaires, while the current richest black man in the world has shared tables with the another. These women share a common similarity which is a determination to be successful despite their respective humble, wealthy and affluent backgrounds. They are all businesswomen thriving successfully to impact the world positively in their own capacity.

Humility, intelligence, and business expertise is a similar quality evident in each of them. Consequently, with the rate at which black women all over the world are blazing trails, positively changing business narratives and displaying professional expertise – one can say the future for women of color is black and successful.

The need to emulate these successful billionaire black women setting trends and announcing the black race is fast-growing and every black skin lady be it African or black American is bracing up.

Do you believe the future for women of color is black, wealthy and successful? Which of the richest black women in the world is your favorite person?