Never before have black women led the way in business. These Powerful Black Female Entrepreneurs have built strong companies and brands that are touching millions across the world across industries, including those of media, entertainment, fashion, beauty, and staffing. In fact some made their way into the ranks of the billionaires. Indeed, these women had struggled in their way, which included racial and gender barriers, but they were able to grow their businesses, had an influence in the industries, and helped to create a ground for others to achieve in their businesses.
1. Oprah Winfrey – $3 Billion
Oprah Winfrey is a name that is widely known in the field of media worldwide. As a news anchor, she began her journey and, for 25 years, she went on to become broadly known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also produced her own company, Harpo Productions, from her success in television.
Typically she’s built the influence over the years in film, publishing and television networks. She has a large stake in the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), won awards for acting, and best selling books. Her business empire grows into wellness, media, education investment. Oprah’s net worth currently surges to $3 billion, making her more powerful than Oprah, both being the richest Black woman in the world.
2. Rihanna – $1.4 Billion
Riri started with music and shot to fame with loads of hits and albums. Her greatest financial success however has been in the venture of beauty and fashion. In 2017 she launched Fenty Beauty, a makeup brand widely known for it’s wide colour range as well as inclusive products. Having a brand was really a success for it, and it made very hundreds of millions of dollars in its first years.
After Savage X Fenty, she also launched a lingerie line that supports body positivity and diversity. Rihanna has been turned into a billionaire by these businesses. With a net worth of about $1.4 billion, the wealthiest female musician in the world and one of the most successful Black women in business, her wealth is estimated to be at $1.4 billion.
3. Sheila Johnson – $1 Billion
After the birth of son Peter in 1990, Sheila Johnson co-founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) which became hugely successful and was later sold to Viacom. From then on, she devoted her time to the hospitality and sport industries. Later on, she became founder and CEO of the luxury hotel group Salamander Hotels and Resorts.
In addition to that, Sheila Johnson was the first Black woman to own or hold stakes in three professional U.S. sports teams: the Washington Wizards (NBA), the Washington Caps (NHL), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA). With a mind-boggling $1 billion fortune, she has businesses in television, hospitality, and sports.
4. Janice Bryant Howroyd – $600 Million+
Janice Bryant is one for the Top 10 Black Female Entrepreneurs. Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of the ACT-1 Group, one of the largest staffing companies in the United States. She works with workforce management and employment service types of companies and works with Fortune 500 companies around the world.
She became the first Black woman to have a company that brought in over $1 billion in revenues. Janice had to fight against a lot of obstacles in her early life, such as growing up in the segregated South of North Carolina. Her leadership and focus on service enabled her to construct ACT 1 into a powerhouse, and she boasts an estimated net worth of more than half a billion dollars.
5. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter – $800 Million
Beyoncé is a music and live performing celebrity who is world-renowned. However, she is also a savvy businesswoman — she has no business other than venturing into fashion films and production. Parkwood Entertainment is the music, film, and brand campaigns production company she owns. In addition to this, she launched a hugely successful fashion line known as Ivy Park in partnership with Adidas.
Beyoncé also founded a new haircare brand Cécred alongside her mother in 2024. Black hair is the focus of the brand and the products are clean, inclusive. Beyoncé’s net worth is a whopping $800 million due to her business efforts and music, brand partnerships.
6. Cathy Hughes – $450–$500 Million
The founder of Radio One, later Urban One, is Cathy Hughes. This is America’s largest Black owned media company. The single station became dozens of radio stations, a TV network, and digital platforms by Radio One.
By 1999, Cathy becomes America’s first Black female to be recruited as the head of a publicly traded company. I had a focus on creating media that actually spoke to Black people and giving a platform for Black voices. The 72 year old is estimated to have a net worth of $450 million to $500 million and is one of the richest media owners in the country.
7. Emma Grede – $300 Million+
She is a fashion entrepreneur, who co‐founded Good American with Khloé Kardashian. This brand is all about being plus size inclusive and body positive clothing for women. She is a founding partner of SKIMS shapewear company owned by Kim Kardashian that has turned into a billion-dollar brand.
Emma is the first Black woman investor on the television show Shark Tank. In addition she has charity work, wanting retailers to sign up to help Black owned brands. This has earned her at least $300 million in her role in modern fashion and beauty.
8. Shonda Rhimes – $140 Million
She is a writer and television producer, Shonda Rhimes. Her TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder, are hits. She also went on to create Shondaland, a production house dedicated to storytelling and characters of different kinds.
In the last few years, Shonda has invested in creating original shows and movies as part of a major content deal with Netflix. It has greatly increased her income, and she is also more visible. With creativity and business acumen, Janet has earned an estimated net worth of roughly $140 million.
9. Lisa Price – Net Worth Not Yet Known
In her Brooklyn kitchen, Lisa Price began her company of Carol’s Daughter. She made products from natural beauty and sold them at fairs and in local markets. When her business began growing, she attracted the attention of big investors and celebrities.
Her brand eventually became popular and was sold to L’Oréal. A solid brand such as Carol’s Daughter continues to do very well in stores and online. No one knows for sure just how much she’s worth, but someone who has become a multimillionaire in the business of Black beauty entrepreneurship and is one of the leading voices in Black beauty entrepreneurship.
10. Melissa Butler – Net Worth is not publicly disclosed
The founder of The Lip Bar, which is a vegan and cruelty-free makeup company, is Melissa Butler. The company was started by her while she was on Wall Street, and she made bold colors of lipstick that show all skin tones. She founded her brand after Shark Tank, ultimately selling it in some of the biggest retailers.
FAQs
1. How did Oprah Winfrey become one of the leading Black female entrepreneurs?
Oprah Winfrey became a media mogul through her iconic talk show and later founded Harpo Productions and the OWN Network. Her net worth of $3 billion makes her the richest Black female entrepreneur in the world.
2. What industries are Black female entrepreneurs dominating in 2024?
Black female entrepreneurs are making a significant impact in media, fashion, beauty, technology, staffing, and hospitality. They are breaking barriers, creating inclusive brands, and generating multimillion and billion-dollar enterprises.
3. Who was the first Black woman to lead a publicly traded company?
Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One, holds the distinction of being the first Black female entrepreneur to head a publicly traded media company in the United States.
4. What is Emma Grede known for among Black female entrepreneurs?
Emma Grede is a trailblazing Black female entrepreneur who co-founded Good American and is a founding partner of SKIMS. She is also the first Black woman investor on Shark Tank and a major advocate for inclusive fashion.
