8 African-Born Billionaires Among America’s Richest Immigrants

Forbes released a new list of America’s Richest Immigrants, featuring eight African-born billionaires. These individuals are part of a record 125 foreign-born people who have built billion-dollar fortunes in the United States. Their success highlights the major role immigrants play in the U.S. economy, especially in fields like technology, finance, and pharmaceuticals.

African Billionaires on the List

This year’s Forbes list includes eight billionaires born in Africa, representing six countries. The top name is Elon Musk from South Africa, who is not only the richest immigrant in the U.S., but also the richest person in the world, with a net worth of $393.1 billion. He earned his fortune through companies like Tesla and SpaceX.

Other notable names from South Africa include Patrick Soon-Shiong ($5.6B, pharmaceuticals) and Rodney Sacks ($3.6B, energy drinks). Nigeria is represented by Adebayo Ogunlesi ($2.4B, private equity) and Tope Awotona ($1.4B, software). The list also features Haim Saban from Egypt, Marc Lasry from Morocco, and Bharat Desai from Kenya.

South Africa has the highest African representation with 3 billionaires

• Elon Musk ($393.1B) – Tesla, SpaceX
• Patrick Soon-Shiong ($5.6B) – Pharmaceuticals
• Rodney Sacks ($3.6B) – Energy drinks

Nigeria is represented by two billionaires

• Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi ($2.4B) – Private equity
• Tope Awotona ($1.4B) – Software

Other African-born billionaires include

• Haim Saban ($3.1B, Egypt) – TV and investments
• Marc Lasry ($1.9B, Morocco) – Hedge funds
• Bharat Desai ($1.6B, Kenya) – IT consulting

Immigrant Billionaires Are Growing in Number and Wealth

According to Forbes, immigrants now make up 14% of all U.S.-based billionaires, holding 18% of the country’s total billionaire wealth. Most of them—about 93%—are self-made, having built their fortunes from scratch. Many work in technology, investment, or finance, showing a strong trend of innovation among immigrant entrepreneurs.

The number of immigrant billionaires in the U.S. has increased from 92 in 2022 to 125 in 2025, showing a significant rise in global talent choosing the U.S. to build their careers and businesses.

The Immigrant Mindset: Resilience and Innovation

Forbes describes the success of these billionaires as a result of the “immigrant mindset” — a strong desire to succeed, the ability to take risks, and a fresh way of thinking. These individuals often bring unique ideas and are ready to work hard to reach the top. Their journey shows how immigration contributes to business growth, job creation, and new opportunities in America.