Black excellence is on the rise in the United States, especially when it comes to the realm of wealth and success. In 2021, there are a record number of African Americans who have made their mark in various industries and have accumulated significant wealth. From business moguls to entertainers and athletes, these individuals have proven that hard work, talent, and determination can lead to extraordinary success. Here are the top 10 richest African Americans in 2021:
1. Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith is a billionaire businessman and philanthropist who is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm. With an estimated net worth of $6 billion, Smith is the wealthiest African American in the United States. He made headlines in 2019 when he announced that he would pay off the student loan debt of the entire graduating class at Morehouse College.
2. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul and philanthropist who has an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion. She is best known for her long-running talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as her successful media empire, including OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Winfrey is one of the most influential and powerful women in the world.
3. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player and the owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA team. With an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, Jordan is one of the most successful and iconic athletes of all time. His Air Jordan brand of sneakers remains one of the most popular and lucrative in the world.
4. Kanye West
Kanye West is a rapper, producer, and fashion designer with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion. West’s music career has been hugely successful, and he has also made a name for himself in the fashion industry with his Yeezy clothing line.
5. Jay-Z
Jay-Z is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. He is one of the most successful and influential figures in the music industry, as well as a successful businessman with investments in various companies, including Tidal, Roc Nation, and Armand de Brignac champagne.
6. Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is a filmmaker, actor, and playwright with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. He is best known for his Madea film series and for creating and producing the hit TV shows “House of Payne” and “The Haves and the Have Nots.”
7. David Steward
David Steward is the founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, a technology solutions provider with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion. He is one of the wealthiest African American businessmen in the United States.
8. Janice Bryant Howroyd
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of ActOne Group, a global workforce solutions company with an estimated net worth of $610 million. She is the first African American woman to own a billion-dollar business.
9. LeBron James
LeBron James is a professional basketball player and entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $500 million. He is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and has also found success off the court with investments in various businesses, including Blaze Pizza and SpringHill Entertainment.
10. Rihanna
Rihanna is a singer, actress, and entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $600 million. She is one of the most successful and influential musicians in the world and has also found success in the fashion and beauty industries with her Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty brands.
These African American individuals have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields and have amassed significant wealth in the process. Their stories serve as inspiration for future generations of black entrepreneurs, artists, and activists, showing that with hard work, talent, and determination, anything is possible. Black excellence is not just a concept – it is a reality that is thriving in 2021.
