Extra Rich: Lebron James Becomes 9th Black Billionaire in America
Congratulations to Lebron James! Whether you love him or hate him on the court, there's no denying that he's extremely talented. Now he's also extremely wealthy. Forbes announced that Lebron is officially a billionaire. He's joining a small club of Black billionaires in America. There are only 8 others on the list. I will say that it has grown recently with the additions of Rihanna, Kanye West, and now Lebron.
It's crazy that only about one percent of the billionaires in America are Black - there are 9, out of the 724 billionaires in this country. There are 2,668 billionaires in the world, as of 2022, with a combined net worth of $12.7 trillion. It just gives me more motivation to strive to make the list one day!
Aside from Lebron, the newest addition to the list is songstress and entertainer Rihanna. She is just one of two women to make the list. While most of the 9 made their money in sports or entertainment, there are a couple of Black billionaires that made their money primarily through investing and technology. Many of the billionaires who earned their initial capital from their entertainment careers, were able to flip the money by investing in other industries, like apparel, media, liquor, and sports.
One thing is clear, this list needs to expand quickly in the next few years. While it's inspiring to see these 9 Black billionaires in America, it's also disheartening that they make up such a small percentage of the billionaires in the United States.