Only 14 Black Celebrities are Billionaire on Forbes 2024 List
Share
Forbes has released their 2024 list, and only 14 black celebrities billionaires are on the list, it features musicians, athletes, and more.
This year’s roster boasts a stellar lineup of musicians, athletes, and multifaceted moguls, totaling an astonishing fourteen individuals whose combined net worth amounts to a staggering $31 billion.
A notable trend highlighted by the renowned publication is the meteoric rise of wealth among these luminaries, with ten celebrities ascending to billionaire status within the past four years alone.
Among these notable achievers is none other than the iconic Taylor Swift, whose journey to the billionaire’s circle is solely paved by the sheer brilliance of her music and electrifying performances.
Diversification emerges as a key theme among the illustrious few named on the list, with many leveraging their star power to build empires beyond their primary talents.
Take, for instance, Rihanna, whose financial prowess owes much to the stratospheric success of her acclaimed brands, FENTY Beauty and Savage X Fenty.
In a historic milestone for the genre, rap luminary Jay-Z stands tall as the sole representative from the hip-hop realm, clinching the title of Hip-Hop’s first billionaire.
His remarkable feat is attributed to the flourishing ventures of two esteemed alcohol brands, D’Usse Cognac and Armand de Brignac Champagne.
Here are eight Black celebrities featured on the affluent list below.
Michael Jordan
Ranking: 3/14
Net Worth: $3.2 Billion
Businesses: According to Forbes, Michael Jordan brings in his wealth from brand partnerships, most famously Nike’s Jordan brand, as well as selling the Charlotte Hornets NBA team in 2023 for $3 Billion.
Oprah Winfrey
Ranking: 4/14
Net Worth: $2.8 Billion
Businesses: Oprah Winfrey‘s wealth includes her media and business empire, including investments in real estate and her own production company, Harpo.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter
Ranking: 5/14
Net Worth: $2.5 Billion
Businesses: Jay-Z sold a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to luxury goods giant LVMH in 2021 for at least $300 million, as well as a majority stake in his cognac label, D’Usse, in 2023 for a reported $750 million. He also owns stock in Uber and Block.
Tyler Perry
Ranking: 8/14
Net Worth: $1.4 Billion
Businesses: Tyler Perry made billionaire status as the result of his three-decade career creating and acting in TV shows, movies and stage plays.
Rihanna
Ranking: 9/14
Net Worth: $1.4 Billion
Businesses: Outside of her music career, Rihanna‘s wealth comes from her globally recognized brands Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty.
Tiger Woods
Ranking: 10/14
Net Worth: $1.3 Billion
Businesses: Tiger Woods has built a large portion of his wealth from endorsements, most notably a nearly three-decade partnership with Nike. He also owns his own clothing line, Sun Day Red.
LeBron James
Ranking: 11/14
Net Worth: $1.2 Billion
Businesses: LeBron James earns big on and off the NBA court, with stakes in Blaze Pizza and Fenway Sports Group, his own production and entertainment company SpringHill, and partial ownership of MLB’s Boston Red Sox, soccer club Liverpool, and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Ranking: 12/14
Net Worth: $1.2 Billion
Businesses: Earvin “Magic” Johnson earned billionaire status through business deals, owning portions of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, as well as MLS’ LAFC. Additionally, he has stake in Iowa-based life insurance provider EquiTrust.
