Black women have long been breaking barriers in entertainment, business, and beyond, leveraging their talent and hard work to build extraordinary wealth. In celebration of Women’s History Month, BLACK ENTERPRISE highlights 14 of the wealthiest Black women, including a look at these women’s success, influence, and the industries they’ve helped shape. From media moguls to top-of-the-pop-chart queens to A-list film sirens and pretty philanthropists - some of them are all four!
Here are some of the richest celebrities who are also Black women. These powerhouses continue to inspire with their achievements and entrepreneurial spirits.
Top African American Actresses and Their Net Worth
Hollywood has been known to have an issue with the gender pay gap, with its female stars earning an estimated $1 million less than their male counterparts, with African American women, in particular, earning even less. Black women have historically been paid less than any of their co-workers, suffering from a racial pay gap as well as a gender pay gap.
However, the tide is turning. A revolution is brewing in Hollywood. A new wave of talented black women is rewriting the script, demanding their worth, and shattering the glass ceiling that confined them to stereotypical roles and meager paychecks.
Black social commentators at ThatSister have compiled a list of the top African American female celebrities with the highest net worth.
Read also: Top African economies
1. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is synonymous with success. Most well-known for her long running talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Oprah has topped lists for the most influential Black person and most powerful person in the entertainment industry in the past. From humble beginnings in Mississippi, Winfrey rose to fame with “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the highest-rated talk show of its time. She became the first Black woman billionaire in the world in 2003. Her media empire, Harpo Productions, expanded her wealth, alongside ventures in acting, publishing, and philanthropy. Oprah established Harpo Productions, a multimedia production company, Oprah Magazine and in 2011, she launched the Oprah Winfrey Network. Winfrey’s stake in the OWN Network continues to bring in millions. Her $3.5 billion net worth is the highest on the list.
2. Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles is primarily known for her work as a singer-songwriter. Beyoncé Gisselle Knowles has made a name for herself. She found fame as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, but after launching her solo career in 2003, she became a global icon. As a solo artist, she has earned most of her wealth from music and live performances. Her ventures include Ivy Park, a successful athleisure brand in partnership with Adidas, and Parkwood Entertainment, a production company. More recenlty the superstar ventured into haircare with her Cécred line and spirts with her Sir Davis Whisky. Knowles’ meticulously crafted concert tours and groundbreaking visuals, such as Black Is King, have made her a force in the entertainment industry. She has won over 32 Grammy awards and was named the Top Radio Artist of the Decade by Billboard in 2009. Her $500 million net worth is the second highest amount on the list and has been called the second-most-award winning artist of all time by Fuse in 2014. In 2008, she established Parkwood Entertainment, a production company that handles her music, film, and fashion projects.
3. Rihanna
Barbadian superstar Rihanna transitioned from chart-topping singer to one of the wealthiest women in the world, thanks largely to her entrepreneurial ventures. Rihanna also landed on the list because of her $1.4 billion fortune mostly accrued because of her Fenty Cosmetics empire. Her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, revolutionized the beauty industry with its inclusive shade range. Rihanna also co-founded Savage X Fenty, a lingerie line celebrated for its diversity. The singer also managed to step back into her entertainment roots with a headlining Super Bowl halftime show in February which drew in 121 million viewers, one of the most watched in history.
How Rihanna Became a Global Superstar and Billionaire Mogul 💎#storytime #didyouknow #billionaire
4. Halle Berry
Halle Berry was one of the 2000’s highest paid actresses in Hollywood. Known for her roles in “X-Men” and “Die Another Day,” she became the first woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Monster’s Ball.” Halle Berry’s net worth of $90 million is the third highest on the list.
Read also: Forex Trading in Nigeria: Top Traders
5. Alicia Keys
With a $75 million net worth, Alicia Keys is mainly known for her work as a singer-songwriter. She has been listed in Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people twice and has been included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 200 best singers of all time. Alicia Keys has also starred in films such as “Smokin’ Aces” and “The Secret Life of Bees,” where she was nominated for outstanding supporting actress.
6. Queen Latifah
Both an accomplished actress and singer, Queen Latifah was the first rapper to perform at the Super Bowl in 1998. Queen Latifah was nominated for best supporting actress, becoming one of only five hip hop or R&B artists to be nominated in an acting category among others like Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige.
7. Whoopi Goldberg
Sharing her acting origins with Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg won the Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture for her role as Celie in “The Color Purple.” Whoopi Goldberg became widely known in 1985 when she won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress for The Color Purple. By 1993, Goldberg had already been the highest-paid actress and had more than 150 television and film appearances to her credit. Despite this, her net worth of $60 million puts her in sixth place in the list. Whoopi Goldberg has also starred in “Sister Act” and “Ghost” and has had voice parts in “The Lion King” and “Toy Story 3.” She is the first African American actress to receive Academy Award nominations for both best actress and best supporting actress and is one of only 17 people to achieve the EGOT, after winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Goldberg is the first African American woman to receive all four awards. Goldberg is a historical first, a Black woman with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar.
Other Notable Figures
- Serena Williams: First went professional in 1995 and would go on to become one of the all-time greatest tennis players, earning most of her wealth from prize winnings and lucrative endorsement deals. Beyond her tennis earnings, Serena has made smart investments in over 60 startups through her firm, Serena Ventures. After retiring in 2022, she got into business and started companies like NiNe Two Six Productions and the wellness brand Will Perform.
- Tyra Banks: Isn’t just a model. She has become a media powerhouse, launching Bankable Productions in 2007, producing such hit shows as The Tyra Banks Show and America’s Next Top Model.
- Shonda Rhimes: Is the founder of Shondaland, the production company behind hit series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder. She became the first woman to create three television dramas that each surpassed 100 episodes.
- Nicki Minaj: Is a rap icon whose influence extends far beyond music. Known for her versatility and bold persona, Minaj has also made lucrative ventures into business, including her perfume line and endorsements with major brands like Fendi and MAC Cosmetics.
- Naomi Campbell: Became famous at the end of the 1980s and is considered one of the most famous models in the history of fashion. She was one of the first supermodels, ruling catwalks and cover pages of the most famous magazines, and collaborating with the biggest names in fashion, such as Versace, Chanel, and Dior.
- Janice Bryant Howroyd: Is an American entrepreneur and owner of ActOne Group, a workforce solutions company, staffing and talent management.
- Sheila Johnson: Co-founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1980 and helped shape the growth of Black media through her role as an owner.
- Ava DuVernay: Is an award-winning producer, writer, director, and film distributor of powerful works like 13th, When They See Us, and Selma.
- Ursula Burns: Started her career as a mechanical engineering intern at Xerox in 1980. She became the first African American woman to head a Fortune 500 company in 2009 when she took over as CEO of Xerox until 2016.
Table of Net Worth Estimates
Here's a summary table of the net worth estimates for some of the featured African American actresses and entrepreneurs:
| Name | Profession | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Oprah Winfrey | Media Mogul, Talk Show Host | $3.5 Billion |
| Beyoncé Knowles | Singer-Songwriter, Entrepreneur | $500 Million |
| Rihanna | Singer, Entrepreneur | $1.4 Billion |
| Halle Berry | Actress | $90 Million |
| Alicia Keys | Singer-Songwriter | $75 Million |
| Queen Latifah | Actress, Rapper | N/A |
| Whoopi Goldberg | Actress, Comedian | $60 Million |
The wealth and influence of these Black women celebrities demonstrate their exceptional talent, hard work, and ability to innovate across industries.
Read also: Morocco's Wealthiest City
This isn’t just about financial gain; it’s about dismantling a system that has silenced Black voices for far too long. It’s about creating a future where Hollywood celebrates Black excellence and Black stories are valued for the richness and complexity they bring to the screen.
