Forbes has released its latest ranking of the richest self-made women in the United States, and four Black women have secured spots on a list that celebrates 43 high achievers across fashion, retail, media and entertainment. Rihanna, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and Sheila Johnson each earned their place through decades of work that extended well beyond the fields that first made them famous.
To qualify, women must have built their wealth substantially within the United States or hold permanent residency. Forbes specifies that none of the women on the list inherited their fortunes. Every name on it got there by navigating obstacles and building something from the ground up.
Rihanna and Beyoncé reach billionaire status
Rihanna and Beyoncé share the No. 39 spot on the list, each carrying a net worth of $1 billion. Their paths to that figure look nothing alike.
Rihanna’s wealth is driven primarily by Fenty Beauty, the cosmetics company she launched with a commitment to shade inclusivity that reshaped how the beauty industry approached product development. The brand’s success transformed her from a music icon into a business force that operates well beyond the recording studio.
Beyoncé’s billion comes from a career that spans solo music, her earlier work with Destiny’s Child, touring, and a growing portfolio of ventures. Her Cowboy Carter Tour generated $450 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour on record. She also claimed the Album of the Year Grammy at the 2025 Grammy Awards, a milestone that had eluded her for years despite being among the most nominated artists in the ceremony’s history.
Oprah Winfrey leads as the wealthiest Black woman on the list
Oprah Winfrey ranks No. 16 overall on the Forbes list and holds the position of the richest self-made Black woman in America. Her net worth has grown from $2.3 billion in 2023 to $3.2 billion, a increase that reflects both her sustained brand value and a series of strategic financial moves.
Since her talk show ended in 2011, Winfrey has channeled her energy into OWN, her cable television network. In 2020 she sold OWN to Warner Bros. in exchange for shares in the company. She has said she expects those shares to grow in value as Warner Bros. moves forward with its planned merger with Paramount.
Sheila Johnson builds a quiet empire
Sheila Johnson has appeared on the Forbes list before, and her continued presence reflects a deliberate investment strategy that has compounded over time. Following her divorce from BET co-founder Bob Johnson in 2002, she sold her shares in the network and redirected that capital into hotels, real estate and equestrian holdings.
Her current net worth sits at $1.2 billion. She also holds ownership stakes in three Washington-area professional sports franchises, the WNBA’s Mystics, the NBA’s Wizards and the NHL’s Capitals, making her one of the few people in the country with a stake in teams across three major leagues simultaneously.
A broader shift in who holds wealth
The United States currently has more than 700 self-made male billionaires with a combined net worth of $6.7 trillion. The gap between that figure and what women hold remains wide. But this year’s Forbes list arrives at a moment when the number of women billionaires in America has reached a historic high.
The presence of four Black women on the Forbes list, each having built wealth in a different industry and through a different approach, reflects something that goes beyond individual success. It points to a wider opening in who gets to accumulate and retain generational wealth in this country, and to how much further that opening still needs to go.
