Black community has always been facing impediments to success in almost all domains. From being bullied in society to being low-waged, they have been sabotaged, which limits their chances of success. Not only financially lagging but they have also been given limited sources of physical well-being, too.
According to relationadvisors.com, success does not see your cast and colour. You should have the spark to get success at an early age.
Despite all bottlenecks, there are some legendary black people who have defeated all odds on the account of their dedication, commitment, intellect, talent, and skills. We have summed up a list of the 11 most influential black people entrepreneurs in American history. Let’s have a look:
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is undeniably one of the most well-known Black women around the globe. She was born in a village in Mississippi to a single mother. She was being told that she is not suitable for television news, yet she kept on forging a whole media empire with herself in the middle. Some of her worth-mentioning achievements include hosting the show The Oprah Winfrey Show, becoming the CEO of Harpo, Inc., and privately holding a multimedia company. She launched her own magazine “O” in 2000, and she introduced her own TV network “OWN ” in 2011. Moreover, she is a philanthropist, a 60-minute contributor, and a recognized brand ambassador of Weight Watchers, in which she has a 7% stake. According to Forbes, her net worth is $2.6 billion, making her the richest Black woman in the U.S.
Daymond John
Daymond John has gathered the public’s recognition as a judge on ABC’s Shark Tank, although he was popular in investment circles even before that. John’s success started in 1989 when he laid the foundation for streetwear clothing company FUBU. He provided clothes to famous celebrities which acted as its promotion and eventually led him to success. His early challenges and the way he stood firm are an inspiration for young entrepreneurs. Currently, he is a part of various companies including Shark Tank, and Blueprint+ Co. His net worth is around $350 million.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was a keen basketball player from a very young age. He was told that he cannot play because of his short height. He did not pay attention to the negative comments and went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA, and became the most appreciated basketball player in the world. After being retired from basketball, he became a part of so many brands including Nike’s Air Jordan line, Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Chevrolet, and McDonald’s. All these partnerships proved to be extremely beneficial for Jordan. His current net worth is $1.7 billion.
Robert L.Johnson and Sheila Johnson
Robert Johnson and Sheila Johnson are not well-known, yet they have a huge impact on the U.S. media, from behind the scene though. Robert and his ex-wife are the founders of the Black Entertainment Television network. In 2000, Viacom bought this company for $2.9 billion, turning the Johnsons the pioneer Black billionaires in America. They got divorced in 2002. Since then, Sheila has invested in hotels, planes, real estate, and horses. Her current net worth is $750 million.
Robert founded the RLJ Companies; became the first Black majority owner of a major American sports team; NBA Charlotte Hornets. His net worth is $550 million.
Janice Bryant Howroyd
Janice is one of America’s most successful business people of any race or gender. She is the founder of an employment agency ActOne which is the first Black female-led company to bring in more than $1 billion in annual revenue. ActOne is one of the most lucrative markets in the U.S. which started with very humble beginnings. Howroyd’s net worth is around $435 million.
Sean Combs
Sean Comb is a recording artist and has developed an impressive business portfolio over the past 2 decades. He made his own music and quickly rose through the ranks within Uptown Records and led to launching his own label, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993. Other than that he has invested in restaurants and food businesses. His net worth is around $90 million.
Jay-Z and Beyonce
Jay-z is basically a musician who turned into a businessman in 1993 after he founded his first company in 1993. In the past 2 decades, he has founded various other companies including clothing, restaurants, and records. His net worth is $1.3 billion.
Beyonce, Jay-z’s wife is famously known as a singer and a songwriter, but she is a very successful entrepreneur as well. She possesses a Tidal streaming service and has been an ambassador of many products so far. Currently, she owns the athleisure brand Ivy Park and a watermelon-water company. Her net worth is $440 million.
George Foreman
George Foreman was a sensation in the 1990s, after becoming the oldest person to ever win a heavyweight boxing belt at the age of 45. He turned his recognition into success by joining hands with multiple business ventures and an unconventional approach to marketing. His most recognizable business ventures include George Foreman grill. A manufacturer Salton bought it in 1999 for $137 million, which added to his business portfolio.
Other than that, his business ventures include a gym brand and various product endorsements. Foreman’s current net worth is around $300 million.
Madam C.J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker is one of the pioneer successful business people in the U.S. who is known for her milestones in charitable endeavours. Walker discovered a gap in the market that had been overlooked by the business elite of the time. She suffered hair loss due to a certain scalp condition and she relied on her self-cures. This is how she came across an opportunity of coming up with hair products for Black Americans. She promoted the “Walker Method” of hair care around the globe and gathered huge success.
She eventually laid the foundation of her own major corporation, Madam C.J Walker Manufacturing Company. She trained a plethora of beauticians. At the end of her life, she stepped back from the management of her companies and started taking part in charitable work. Having said that, she visited different parts of America and donated a commendable portion of her wealth to charities. At her death, her net worth was around $8 million. Check https://networthmart.com/ to read about the net worth of famous people as well.
