Original Image Sources: Biography, Black Past, Encyclopedia of Alabama, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Fortune, AMACAD, Biography, and Because of Them We Can
Pictured left to right: Madam C.J. Walker, Annie Turnbo Malone, A.G. Gaston, John H. Johnson, Reginald F. Lewis, Sheila Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson, and Robert F. Smith
- Madam C.J. Walker (1867–1919)
- Industry: Haircare & Beauty
- Achievement: The first self-made female millionaire in America, she founded the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, specializing in Black haircare products.
- Annie Turnbo Malone (1877–1957)
- Industry: Haircare & Cosmetics
- Achievement: A mentor to Madam C.J. Walker, Malone built a multi-million-dollar empire with Poro College, a school that trained Black women in cosmetology.
- A.G. Gaston (1892–1996)
- Industry: Business & Finance
- Achievement: A multimillionaire who built a Black-owned banking, real estate, insurance, and funeral services empire, Gaston also played a key role in financing the Civil Rights Movement.
- John H. Johnson (1918–2005)
- Industry: Media & Publishing
- Achievement: Founded Ebony and Jet magazines, shaping Black media and representation for generations.
- Sheila Johnson (b. 1949)
- Industry: Media & Hospitality
- Achievement: Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the first Black woman billionaire, later building a luxury hospitality empire as the CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. She is also the first Black woman to own stakes in three major U.S. sports teams (NBA, NHL, and WNBA).
- Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954)
- Industry: Media & Entertainment
- Achievement: A media mogul, Winfrey built a billion-dollar empire with Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). As the first Black female billionaire, she revolutionized daytime television and became one of the most influential figures in global media.
- Magic Johnson (b. 1959)
- Industry: Sports & Business
- Achievement: A former NBA superstar turned entrepreneur, Johnson built a multi-billion-dollar business empire with Magic Johnson Enterprises, investing in real estate, entertainment, and sports ownership, including stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and other major franchises.
- Robert F. Smith (b. 1962)
- Industry: Private Equity & Investment
- Achievement: Billionaire investor and philanthropist, Smith is the founder of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in software companies. In 2019, he made history by paying off the student loan debt of the entire Morehouse College graduating class.
