The list of Black billionaires around the world continues to grow. Last year Forbes found 23. Now, there are 27, thanks to a few high-profile new members of the three-comma club.

Hip-hop legend Dr. Dre joins the list more than a decade after selling the Beats headphones business he co-founded with record executive Jimmy Iovine to Apple in a $3 billion-plus deal. Now he’s making a big push into cocktails with spirits company Gin & Juice, co-founded alongside Snoop Dogg.

“I’m always thinking forward,” Dre, who Forbes now estimates to be worth $1 billion, said in a 2024 interview with Stephen A. Smith. “I don’t live my life with a rearview mirror.”

He is one of 390 newcomers to Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list this year, which features a record 3,428 billionaires around the planet, including five new or returnee Black billionaires.

In addition to Dre, another superstar—Beyoncé Knowles-Carter—joins the ranks after performing her way onto the billionaires list, with an estimated $1 billion fortune. Her husband Jay-Z is separately worth $2.8 billion and has been a billionaire since 2019.

Two lower profile Black private equity billionaires—David Grain ($2.3 billion), of Grain Management, and Stefan Kaluzny ($1.3 billion), of Sycamore Partners—are also newcomers as well as ForbesBLK 50 listers. And Robert Johnson, the co-founder of the BET network, is a returnee to the billionaires ranks. (One person, Michael Lee-Chin, of the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica, dropped below the $1 billion mark.)

In all, the world’s 27 Black billionaires have a combined net worth of $121 billion, up from 23 worth a combined $96 billion last year. They mainly earned their fortunes in the finance, entertainment and technology sectors.

Aliko Dangote, the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, the largest conglomerate in West Africa, remains the richest Black person on the planet. He is worth an estimated $28.5 billion, and ranks as the 86th-richest person on the 2026 list.

Rounding out the top three are Palantir Technologies co-founder and CEO Alexander Karp, with an estimated net worth of $13.4 billion, and David Steward, an American IT entrepreneur worth an estimated $12.4 billion.

Here are the 27 Black billionaires on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list.

NET WORTHS ARE AS OF MARCH 1, 2026.

Net worth: $28.5 billion | Source of wealth: Cement, sugar | Citizenship: Nigeria

The founder of Dangote Group, his wealth increased by $4.6 billion over the past year. In 2013, Dangote started the process of converting a Nigerian marshland into the seventh-largest refinery in the world. The cost: $23 billion. Among the challenges of converting a jungle were moving 365 million cubic meters of sand from the sea, building a private port and private roads and booking a 5,000-ton crane, one of only three in the world. “It was the biggest risk of my life,” Dangote told Forbes in 2025. “If this didn’t work, I was dead.”

Net worth: $13.4 billion |Source of wealth: Software firm | Citizenship: U.S.

Karp is the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a data mining company used by the FBI, CIA, the Department of Defense and other government agencies. In 2025, Karp’s net worth quadrupled thanks to a 62% jump in the share price of Palantir, which went public in 2020. He is the richest Black American.

Net worth: $12.4 billion | Source of wealth: IT provider | Citizenship: U.S.

The second-richest Black American, in 1999 Steward co-founded World Wide Technology, which provides IT solutions for global companies including Citi and Verizon. Today, WWT has more than 10,000 employees and $20 billion in annual revenue.

Net worth: $11.2 billion | Source of wealth: Cement, sugar | Citizenship: Nigeria

Rabiu is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate. He launched the company 1988 and still serves as chairman and CEO. Through his foundation, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative, he also supports education, health and social development projects across Africa.

Net worth: $10 billion | Source of wealth: Private equity | Citizenship: U.S.

In 2000, Smith founded Vista Equity Partners, the largest Black-owned private equity firm in the United States, with more than 700 employees and $100 billion in assets under management. A ForbesBLK 50 lister, Smith ranked No. 341 overall on the World’s Billionaires List.

Net worth: $6.5 billion | Source of wealth: Telecom, oil | Citizenship: Nigeria

Adenuga is the founder of Globacom, a telecommunications company and the third-largest mobile provider in Nigeria with an estimated 17 million subscribers.

Net worth: $4.3 billion | Source of wealth: Charlotte Hornets, endorsements | Citizenship: U.S.

Often considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. In 2023, he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that valued the team at $3 billion.

Net worth: $4.3 billion | Source of wealth: Mining | Citizenship: South Africa

Motsepe is the mining tycoon and founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, the fifth largest gold producer in the world. In 2003, his Armgold merged with Harmony Gold Mining Company and rebranded to African Rainbow Minerals. By 2008, Motsepe became the first Black African on the Forbes list and the richest person in South Africa. Today, he ranks as the eighth-richest person in Africa.

Net worth: $3.2 billion | Source of wealth: TV shows | Citizenship: U.S.

Oprah transitioned her hit talk show, which ran for 25 years until 2011, into a media and business empire. She sold most of her 50% stake in her OWN cable channel to her joint venture partner, Warner Bros. Discovery, in 2017 and 2020.

Net worth: $2.8 billion | Source of Wealth: Music | Citizenship: U.S.

Considered one of the greatest hip-hop musicians of all-time, Jay-Z has successfully crossed over into the private investment space. In 2018, he co-founded Marcy Venture Partners (MVP), naming the firm after the housing projects where he grew up. The venture capital has backed companies such as Ledger, Gemini and Rihanna’s company, Savage X Fenty. In 2024, MVP merged with the investment arm of Pendulum Holdings to form MarcyPen Capital Partners, a private equity firm with assets totaling $1.1 billion.

Net worth: $2.5 billion | Source of Wealth: Private equity | Citizenship: U.S.

A native of Nigeria and now a U.S. citizen, Ogunlesi is a co-founder of New York-based private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). In October, GIP was acquired by BlackRock for $12.5 billion in cash and shares. Prior to co-founding GIP in 2006, Ogunlesi spent more than 20 years as an investment banker at Credit Suisse.

Net worth: $2.3 billion | Source of Wealth: Private equity | Citizenship: U.S.

A newcomer to the list, Grain, 63, is the founder and CEO of private equity firm Grain Management. The business invests in telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber networks, wireless spectrum and cellphone towers. The firm has roughly $6 billion in assets.

Net worth: $2.1 billion | Source of wealth: Telecom | Citizenship: Zimbabwe

Masiyiwa is the founder of Econet Group, a telecom conglomerate with operations and investments throughout Africa, South America and Asia.

Net worth: $1.6 billion | Source of Wealth: Basketball, investments | Citizenship: U.S.

Following his retirement from the NBA, Johnson began investing, opening movie theaters and Starbucks franchises, often in Black communities. Johnson also owns equity in four sports teams, including the NFL’s Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Net worth: $1.5 billion | Source of Wealth: Golf | Citizenship: U.S.

One of two professional athletes to become a billionaire while still playing—the other is LeBron James—Woods is one of golf’s all-time greats. The majority of his earnings have come from lucrative brand deals, most famously with Nike and EA Sports.

Net worth: $1.5 billion | Source of wealth: Healthcare | Citizenship: U.S.

Tabuteau founded Axsome Therapeutics in 2012 with the goal of developing life-changing treatments for the millions of patients living with brain disorders. He owns 15% of Axsome, which he took public in 2015.

Net worth: $1.4 billion | Source of wealth: Software | Citizenship: U.S.

Awotona is the founder and CEO of Calendly, a scheduling software startup that private investors valued at $3 billion in 2021. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Awotona moved to Atlanta when he was 15, and studied computer science at the University of Georgia before switching majors to business and management information.

Net worth: $1.4 billion | Source of wealth: Basketball | Citizenship: U.S.

In 2022, James became the first active basketball player to become a billionaire, having earned more than $900 million (pretax) from endorsements and business ventures. Over his NBA career, James is a 22-time NBA All-Star, four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA MVP. Additionally, James has captured the NBA’s all-time scoring crown, scoring more than 43,000 points.

Net worth $1.4 billion | Source of wealth: Movies, television | Citizenship: U.S.

Perry has built a platform as the second highest-paid TV showrunner, and he achieved billionaire status in 2020. He also owns a quarter of the streaming platform BET+ and a 330-acre studio in Atlanta. Most of his wealth comes from his ownership of the content he has created.

Net worth: $1.3 billion | Source of wealth: Communications | Citizenship: U.K.

Ibrahim founded Celtel International, one of the first mobile phone companies serving Africa and the Middle East, in 1998. Seven years later, he sold Celtel to Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Company for $3.4 billion and pocketed $1.4 billion.

Net worth: $1.3 billion | Source of wealth: Private equity | Citizenship: U.S.

A newcomer to the list, Kaluzny is the founder of private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which he co-launched in 2011. The firm owns major brands including Walgreens, Staples, Hot Topic and Torrid. Before founding Sycamore, he worked as a management consultant at Bain & Co. and in 1994 co-founded Delray Farms, a 17-store chain of fresh grocery stores serving low-income Hispanic communities in Chicago.

Net worth: $1.3 billion | Source of wealth: Energy, utilities | Citizenship: Nigeria

Otedola made his first fortune in commodities before selling his shares in Forte Oil to invest in the energy business. He served as the chairman and majority owner of Geregu Power, a power generation business, until 2025, when he divested ownership.

Net worth: $1.2 billion | Source of wealth: Cable TV, hotels | Citizenship: U.S.

In 1980, Johnson co-founded cable network channel BET with her then-husband, Robert Johnson. In 2001, BET was sold to Viacom for roughly $3 billion. Today, she’s the founder of hospitality firm the Salamander Collection and she owns stakes in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which operates the WNBA's Washington Mystics, NBA's Wizards and the NHL's Capitals.

Net worth: $1 billion | Source of wealth: Music, electronics | Citizenship: U.S.

A founding member of the groundbreaking rap group N.W.A., Dre built a chart-topping solo career and co-founded Death Row Records, which signed rap icons Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, in the 1990s. Then he launched Aftermath Entertainment, which boosted artists such as 50 Cent, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Much of his wealth comes from the sale of his Beats by Dre headphone brand to Apple in 2014.

Net worth: $1 billion | Source of wealth: Cable TV, sports | Citizenship: U.S.

A returnee to the list, Johnson is the co-founder of BET cable network, which sold to Viacom in 2001 for roughly $3 billion. That year, he became the first Black billionaire to make The Forbes 400, with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion. In 2003, Johnson also became the first Black majority owner of an NBA team when he paid a $300 million expansion fee to purchase the Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats). He fell off the billionaires list amid the Great Recession and, in 2010 sold a majority stake in the team to Michael Jordan.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Net worth: $1 billion | Source of wealth: Music, cosmetics, apparel | Citizenship: U.S.

A newcomer to the list, Forbes named Beyoncé a billionaire in December. Over the course of her career, she has won more Grammy Awards than any other artist (35) and most of her estimated $1 billion fortune comes from her three decades as a solo performer and as a member of Destiny’s Child. In addition to her haircare brand, Cécred, Beyoncé also launched SirDavis in 2024, a Texas whiskey brand created in partnership with Moët Hennessy.

Net worth: $1 billion | Source of wealth: Music, cosmetics | Citizenship: Barbados

Pop star Rihanna became a billionaire thanks to her cosmetics company, Fenty Beauty, co-owned with the French luxury conglomerate LVMH.

See the entire 2026 World’s Billionaires list here.

© Forbes