Black billionaires

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According to the 2008 Forbes International Billionaire List, Aliko Dangote, with a net worth of $3.3 billion is the richest black person in the world, over taking Oprah Winfrey who was listed as the only black billionaire for three straight years. South African gold magnate, Patrice Motsepe , was also listed with a net worth of $2.4 billion. Aliko Dangote and Motseps are the first black Africans to ever appear on the Forbes internationl rich list,^[1] however, Mobutu, the Congolese president, and Sani Abacha, the Nigerian military leader, were probably billionaires when they were alive but Forbes could never confirm this (according to Forbes magazine's Kerry Dolan).^[2]

From 2001-2003, Forbes listed Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson as a billionaire^[3], but dropped him after his fortune was split in his divorce from his wife Sheila. ^[4] He returned to Forbes international rich list in 2007 with a net worth of $1.1 billion USD. In 2008 Johnson's wealth dropped further to approximately $1.0 billion USD even.^[5]

Afro-multiracial billionaires have also been identified. Forbes international richest list includes Michael Lee-Chin of Canada, who is of Chinese and Afro-Caribbean ancestry. Saudi-Arabian billionaire Mohammed Al Amoudi has black ancestry because his mother is from Ethiopia, but rich lists classify him as Arab.^[6]. Also included is Mo Ibrahim, a British billionaire of Sudanese Nubian ancestry^[7]. While Nubians are often considered black, the U.S. census classifies people of Nubian ancestry as White^[8].