Famous Black Business People

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 1 
Madam C. J. Walker
(Entrepreneur)
Madam C. J. Walker
11
Birthdate: December 23, 1867
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Delta, Louisiana, United States
Died: May 25, 1919
Madam C.J. Walker is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female self-made American millionaire. She manufactured and promoted a cosmetic-and-hair-care line catering to black women, through the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company. She was also the richest African-American businesswoman when she died.
 2 
Nelly
(Rapper and Singer Known for His Hits: ‘Country Grammar’, ‘Hot in Herre’ and ‘Dilemma’)
Nelly
5
Birthdate: November 2, 1974
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States

Grammy-winning hip-hop/rap artist Nelly began his career with St. Lunatics. He became a household name after the release of his debut solo album, Country Grammar, in 2000. He ranked third on Billboard’s list of the Top Artist of the Decade and has sold 21 million albums in the U.S.

 3 
Gladys Knight
(Singer-Songwriter)
Gladys Knight
4
Birthdate: May 28, 1944
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
 4 
Aliko Dangote
(Businessman)
Aliko Dangote
4
Birthdate: April 10, 1957
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kano

Nigerian billionaire business magnate and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, is the wealthiest person in Africa. He is also the richest black person in the world. Born into a wealthy family, he grew up to be an astute young man. He founded the multi trillion-naira conglomerate, The Dangote Group. A dedicated philanthropist, he has donated millions to health care in Nigeria.

 5 
Monica
(Singer)
Monica
4
Birthdate: October 24, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: College Park, Georgia, United States
 6 
A'Lelia Walker
(Businesswoman)
A'Lelia Walker
6
Birthdate: June 6, 1885
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States
Died: August 17, 1931
 7 
Tina Knowles
(Businesswoman & Founder of the Fashion Brand ''House of Deréon')
Tina Knowles
4
Birthdate: January 4, 1954
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Galveston, Texas, United States

Tina Knowles is an American fashion designer and businesswoman. In 2004, she launched House of Deréon, a now-defunct ready-to-wear fashion line. While her fashion brands, such as Miss Tina and House of Deréon, have been generally regarded as one of her most important contributions, her biggest contribution to the society is letting her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange ,follow their passion.

 8 
Tim Scott
(Politician)
Tim Scott
4
Birthdate: September 19, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: North Charleston, South Carolina North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
 9 
Chamillionaire
(Rapper)
Chamillionaire
4
Birthdate: November 28, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
 10 
Ken Carter
(Coach)
Ken Carter
3
Birthdate: February 13, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fernwood, Mississippi, United States
 11 
Angelica Ross
(Businessperson)
Angelica Ross
3
Birthdate: November 28, 1980
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kenosha, Wisconsin
 12 
James Prince
(Music Executive)
James Prince
3
Birthdate: October 31, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
 13 
La Toya Jackson
(Singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and television personality)
La Toya Jackson
4
Birthdate: May 29, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
 14 
Bernice King
(American Lawyer, Minister, and the Youngest Child of Martin Luther King Jr. And Coretta Scott King)
Bernice King
3
Birthdate: March 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Bernice King is an American minister best known as the daughter of the popular activist and leader Martin Luther King Jr. Over the years, Barnice King has supported many noble causes for which she has been honored with several awards. In 2009, she was honored at the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Convention for her service to women.

 15 
Herman Cain
(American Businessman and Conservative Politician)
Herman Cain
10
Birthdate: December 13, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: July 30, 2020

The son of a janitor and a domestic help, Herman Cain used his talent in math to join Purdue University. He had worked with the Navy and been an analyst for Coca-Cola. He later headed Pillsbury as its VP. He had announced his presidential candidacy in 2012 but later withdrew.

 16 
Patrice Motsepe
(8th President of Confederation of African Football)
Patrice Motsepe
3
Birthdate: January 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa

The first black African to be featured on the Forbes billionaires’ list, African Rainbow Minerals founder Patrice Motsepe also owns a football club. In 2021, he took over as the president of the Confederation of African Football. The mining tycoon has also signed The Giving Pledge.

 17 
C. J. Wallace
(Actor, Entrepreneur)
C. J. Wallace
1
Birthdate: October 29, 1996
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York, United States
 18 
Strive Masiyiwa
(businessperson)
Strive Masiyiwa
3
Birthdate: January 29, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
 19 
Cedella Marley
(Singer)
Cedella Marley
3
Birthdate: August 23, 1967
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica

The daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley and his singer wife Rita Marley, Cedella Marley dons many hats. She is not just a singer but is also a successful fashion designer, an author, and an entrepreneur. She began her singing career with The Melody Makers and now heads her father’s record label.

 20 
Nathan Morris
(Singer)
Nathan Morris
3
Birthdate: June 18, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 21 
Krayzie Bone
(Rapper)
Krayzie Bone
3
Birthdate: June 17, 1973
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
 22 
Vernon Jordan
(Lawyer)
Vernon Jordan
3
Birthdate: August 15, 1935
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
 23 
Alex English
(American Former Professional Basketball Player, Coach, and Businessman)
Alex English
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1954
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Columbia, South Carolina, United States
 24 
Peter Lynch
(Financier)
Peter Lynch
3
Birthdate: January 19, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: United States of America
 25 
Moshood Abiola
(Nigerian Politician, Businessman, and Publisher)
Moshood Abiola
3
Birthdate: August 24, 1937
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Abeokuta, Nigeria
Died: July 7, 1998
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was a Nigerian politician, businessman, and publisher. Nicknamed the President Who Never Ruled, Abiola took part in the presidential elections in 1993. Unfortunately, the results of the election were annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, claiming that the election was corrupt and unfair. By the time of his demise, Abiola had become a symbol of democracy.
 26 
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
(Spiritual Leader and Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria)
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
3
Birthdate: July 31, 1961
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kano
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a Nigerian spiritual leader and banker. He served as the Emir of Kano from 8 June 2014 to 9 March 2020. During his reign as Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi advocated cultural reform in Northern Nigeria. From 2009 to 2014, he also served as the Central Bank of Nigeria's governor.
 27 
Benjamin Bronfman
(Entrepreneur, Musician)
Benjamin Bronfman
1
Birthdate: August 6, 1982
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
 28 
Lauren Lake
(Lawyer)
Lauren Lake
3
Birthdate: August 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
 29 
Tammy Rivera
(She is a former cast member of the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta)
Tammy Rivera
1
Birthdate: July 30, 1986
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 30 
Tinchy Stryder
3
Birthdate: September 14, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Accra

Ghanaian-British rapper Kwasi Esono Danquah III is better known as Tinchy Stryder, "Tinchy" being an indication of his short frame and "Stryder" indicating a game he played as a child. Famous for his album Star in the Hood, he also owns an apparel range of the same name.

 31 
Junior Bridgeman
(Basketball player, Businesspeople)
Junior Bridgeman
0
Birthdate: September 17, 1953
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: East Chicago, Indiana, United States
 32 
Maverick Carter
(Businessperson, Basketball player)
Maverick Carter
0
Birthdate: October 10, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: North Akron, Akron, Ohio, United States
 33 
Jacques Agnant
(Music executive known for his connection to Tupac in the early 1990s)
Jacques Agnant
1
Birthplace: Haiti
 34 
Ursula Burns
(Former CEO of Xerox (2009 - 2016) and First Black Woman to be CEO of Fortune 500 Company)
Ursula Burns
3
Birthdate: September 20, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Ursula Burns made history when she became the CEO of Xerox, becoming the first African-American female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Raised by a working-class single mother, Burns grew up to graduate as a mechanical engineer. She has led the American STEM Education Coalition and served various corporate boards.

 35 
Malik Obama
(Former President Barack Obama's half-brother)
Malik Obama
1
Birthdate: 1958
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
 36 
George Crum
2
Birthdate: July 15, 1824
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Died: July 22, 1914
 37 
Esther Afua Ocloo
(Co-Founder of Women's World Banking)
Esther Afua Ocloo
2
Birthdate: April 18, 1919
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: South Dayi District, Ghana
Died: February 8, 2002

Ghanaian businesswoman Esther Afua Ocloo, better known as the founder of Women’s World Banking, had stepped into the world of business with less than a dollar. She initially sold marmalade in Ghana and then moved to England to learn food processing, eventually turning into a microlending pioneer.

 38 
Banky W.
(Singer, Actor)
Banky W.
0
Birthdate: March 27, 1981
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
 39 
Zari Hassan
(For marrying Ivan Semwanga)
Zari Hassan
2
Birthdate: September 23, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Jinja, Uganda
 40 
Moise Tshombe
(Businessman)
Moise Tshombe
2
Birthdate: November 10, 1919
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died: June 29, 1969
 41 
Jawar Mohammed
(Founder of Oromia Media Network)
Jawar Mohammed
1
Birthdate: May 12, 1986
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Oromia, Ethiopia
 42 
Pat Neely
(Chef, Restaurateur)
Pat Neely
2
Birthdate: July 20, 1964
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 43 
Sarah E. Goode
(Inventor)
Sarah E. Goode
2
Birthdate: 1855 AD
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio, United States
Died: April 8, 1905
 44 
John H. Johnson
(Publisher, Entrepreneur)
John H. Johnson
2
Birthdate: January 19, 1918
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arkansas City, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 8, 2005
 45 
Mary Ann Shadd
(American-Canadian Activist, Journalist, Publisher and the First Black Woman Publisher in North America)
Mary Ann Shadd
3
Birthdate: October 9, 1823
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Died: June 5, 1893

The first North American Black woman to publish a newspaper, USA-born Mary Ann Shadd was the founder of the Canadian newspaper, The Provincial Freeman. Concurrently serving as its anonymous editor and contributor, she also became one of the first women to pursue journalism in Canada. She was also one of the first Black women to earn a degree in law.

 46 
Moïse Katumbi
(Governor of Katanga Province)
Moïse Katumbi
0
Birthdate: December 28, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: KASHOBWE, Democratic Republic of the Congo
 47 
B. Smith
(Restaurateur, Model)
B. Smith
0
Birthdate: August 24, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Everson, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 22, 2020
 48 
Maggie Lena Draper Walker
(Entrepreneur)
Maggie Lena Draper Walker
2
Birthdate: July 15, 1864
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Died: December 15, 1934
 49 
Yvonne Nelson
(Ghanaian Actress and Film Producer Known for Her Film 'House of Gold')
Yvonne Nelson
2
Birthdate: November 12, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Accra, Ghana

Ghanaian actress, model and film-producer Yvonne Nelson chanced upon acting with the film Princess Tyra. Over the years, she has produced and starred in several movies, most-notably the Ghanaian-Nigerian comedy House of Gold that bagged many awards at 2013 Zulu African Film Academy Awards. She founded the Yvonne Nelson Glaucoma Foundation and is noted for her charity-work in fighting glaucoma.

 50 
Kojo Annan
(Son of the Former Un Secretary-General 'Kofi Annan')
Kojo Annan
2
Birthdate: July 25, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland

The only son of former secretary-general of the UN, Kofi Annan, Kojo Annan is a serial entrepreneur who has been associated with various companies, such as Vector Global and Made in Africa. The Swiss-born Ghanaian-Nigerian was a talented college rugby player and works to provide sports scholarships to African students.