By Emmanuel Iyede
Nine African-born entrepreneurs now control an estimated $952.9 billion in wealth, representing approximately 43.3 per cent of the combined $2.2 trillion fortune held by America’s richest immigrant billionaires, according to the latest Forbes ranking.
The newly released list underscores the growing influence of foreign-born entrepreneurs in the United States economy, with immigrant billionaires accounting for a significant share of the country’s wealth creation across technology, healthcare, finance, consumer goods and media.
According to Forbes, the 2026 ranking features a record 144 immigrant billionaires, up from 125 a year earlier. Collectively, their fortunes increased from $1.3 trillion to $2.2 trillion, representing nearly 15 per cent of all American billionaires and about one-quarter of the country’s total billionaire wealth.
Africa Strengthens Presence on Forbes Ranking
Africa’s representation on the prestigious ranking spans five countries—South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and Kenya—with business leaders who built fortunes in sectors including electric vehicles, software, pharmaceuticals, private equity, consumer products and media.
The continent’s presence on the list increased from eight to nine billionaires following the debut of South Africa-born entrepreneur Kimbal Musk, younger brother of Elon Musk, whose estimated fortune of $1.6 billion earned him a place among America’s richest immigrant billionaires.
Elon Musk Dominates African Wealth
South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk overwhelmingly dominates Africa’s representation on the ranking.
The Tesla and SpaceX founder is estimated to be worth $927 billion, accounting for almost the entire wealth held by African-born billionaires featured in the Forbes list.
Other South Africans on the ranking include billionaire physician Patrick Soon-Shiong, Monster Beverage executive Rodney Sacks, and entrepreneur Kimbal Musk.
Nigeria is represented by infrastructure investment executive Adebayo Ogunlesi and Calendly founder Tope Awotona, while Egypt, Morocco and Kenya are represented by Haim Saban, Marc Lasry and Bharat Desai, respectively.
African-Born Billionaires on Forbes’ Richest US Immigrant List
| Rank | Billionaire | Country of Birth | Industry | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | South Africa | Tesla, SpaceX, Technology | $927.0 Billion |
| 2 | Patrick Soon-Shiong | South Africa | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | $9.8 Billion |
| 3 | Rodney Sacks | South Africa | Consumer Goods (Monster Beverage) | $3.6 Billion |
| 4 | Haim Saban | Egypt | Media & Entertainment | $3.3 Billion |
| 5 | Adebayo Ogunlesi | Nigeria | Private Equity & Infrastructure | $2.4 Billion |
| 6 | Marc Lasry | Morocco | Finance & Hedge Funds | $2.2 Billion |
| 7 | Bharat Desai | Kenya | Technology | $1.6 Billion |
| 8 | Kimbal Musk | South Africa | Technology & Entrepreneurship | $1.6 Billion |
| 9 | Tope Awotona | Nigeria | Software (Calendly) | $1.4 Billion |
Source: The Bureau Journal compilation from the latest Forbes America’s Richest Immigrant Billionaires ranking.
Nigeria Maintains Strong Representation
Nigeria remains one of only five African countries represented on the ranking.
Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Chief Executive of Global Infrastructure Partners, built his fortune through infrastructure investing and private equity, while Tope Awotona created one of the world’s most widely used scheduling platforms, Calendly.
Their inclusion reflects the growing global influence of Nigerian entrepreneurs within America’s technology and investment sectors.
A Small Group With Outsized Wealth
Although African-born billionaires account for just 6.25 per cent of the 144 immigrant billionaires listed by Forbes, they control approximately 43.3 per cent of the group’s total wealth.
The overwhelming concentration of wealth is largely driven by Elon Musk, whose fortune alone exceeds the combined net worth of most immigrant billionaires featured on the ranking.
America’s Billionaire Class Continues to Diversify
Beyond Africa’s impressive showing, the Forbes report highlights the increasing diversity of America’s billionaire community.
The 144 immigrant billionaires originate from 45 countries and territories, up from 42 in the previous ranking. Haiti, Poland, Spain and the Philippines appeared on the list for the first time.
Forbes also noted that three of the world’s ten richest people are immigrants living in the United States, illustrating the continuing contribution of migration to American entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.
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