This debut edition, known as the ForbesBLK50 list, aims to address the gaps in representation from the 2009 release of Forbes’ initial ranking of the most influential Black Americans.
“In 2023, when Forbes launched the ForbesBLK platform, creating a new list of the wealthiest Black Americans was one of its main objectives—but net worth isn’t the only way to keep score of impact and influence in the community and world at large.” the report noted.
Forbes explained that the new ranking not only considers net worth but also incorporates metrics that celebrate the achievements of some of the wealthiest Black Americans alongside pioneering entrepreneurs, activists, and innovators.
Notably, several African Americans and, specifically, three Nigerians earned spots on the list for their remarkable contributions to their respective industries.
In no particular order, they include:
Wemimo Abbey (Co-founder and Co-CEO, Esusu)
Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Wemimo Abbey had an impressive career trajectory.
Before launching Esusu, he worked as a mergers and acquisitions consultant at PwC and co-founded both a nonprofit organization and a data analytics startup.
His fintech company, Esusu, helps renters build their credit by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus.
The New York-based startup, which raised $130 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation in 2022, is used by more than 1.8 million Americans across 20,000 properties.
Tope Awotona (Founder and CEO, Calendly)
Tope Awotona, also born in Lagos, Nigeria, relocated to Atlanta at the age of 15.
Initially studying computer science at the University of Georgia, he later switched to business and management information systems.
Awotona founded Calendly, a scheduling software company that private investors valued at $3 billion in 2021. His innovative software has transformed scheduling processes for businesses and individuals globally.
Adebayo Ogunlesi (Chairman and Co-founder, Global Infrastructure Partners)
Adebayo Ogunlesi, a Nigerian native and now a U.S. citizen, is the co-founder and chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm headquartered in New York.
A highly accomplished academic, Ogunlesi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford University, as well as both a Juris Doctor and an MBA from Harvard.
His net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $1.7 billion, reflecting his significant impact in the global infrastructure investment sector.
