Two Nigerian-born business leaders — private equity titan Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi and tech entrepreneur Tope Awotona — have been named among America’s richest immigrants, according to Forbes‘ 2025 annual ranking of foreign-born billionaires.
Ogunlesi and Awotona are among 125 billionaires from 41 countries who now call the United States home. Collectively, this elite cohort represents 14 percent of U.S.-based billionaires and holds a staggering 18 percent of the country’s total billionaire wealth.
The list, which celebrates the enduring impact of immigrant entrepreneurship, once again underscores the transformative role of foreign-born talent in shaping America’s economic powerhouses — particularly in finance, technology, and infrastructure.
Nigeria’s Global Footprint Expands
Bayo Ogunlesi, a Harvard-trained lawyer and banker, ranks No. 77 on the list with a net worth of $2.4 billion the Guardian described. He is best known as the chairman and managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, a multibillion-dollar private equity firm that has invested in airports and energy infrastructure worldwide.
Tope Awotona, founder and CEO of Calendly, the widely adopted scheduling software used by millions across the corporate and creative worlds, lands at No. 106 with an estimated fortune of $1.4 billion.
Their inclusion affirms Nigeria’s ascent on the global innovation map — and signals the growing influence of African-born entrepreneurs in the U.S. economic landscape.
Immigrants Rewriting American Wealth
Topping the 2025 list is Elon Musk, the South African-born CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, whose net worth stands at a record-breaking $393.1 billion. Others in the top 10 include Google co-founder Sergey Brin (Russia), NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang (Taiwan), and Hungarian-born trading magnate Thomas Peterffy.
Top 5 Richest Immigrants in America (2025) |
| 1. Elon Musk – $393.1B (South Africa) |
| 2. Sergey Brin – $139.7B (Russia) |
| 3. Jensen Huang – $137.9B (Taiwan) |
| 4. Thomas Peterffy – $67.9B (Hungary) |
| 5. Miriam Adelson & Family – $33.4B (Israel) |
Africa’s Billionaires Hit New Heights
Beyond U.S. borders, Africa’s wealthiest individuals reached a milestone: their combined fortunes surpassed $100 billion for the first time, rising from $82.4 billion in 2024 to $105 billion in 2025.
Leading the continent’s list is Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s industrialist and founder of Dangote Group, with a net worth of $23.9 billion. His fortune surged following the partial launch of his long-delayed Dangote Refinery on the outskirts of Lagos, which has begun limited operations in refining petroleum.
“This is a very, very big relief,” Dangote told Forbes in February. “This refinery is a pivotal step toward Africa refining its own crude oil — creating jobs, wealth, and independence.”
South African luxury mogul Johann Rupert ranks second with $14 billion, followed by Nigerian energy tycoon Femi Otedola, whose Geregu Power Plc saw shares rise nearly 40% last year.
African-Born Billionaires in the U.S.
Other African-born billionaires on the U.S. immigrant list include:
- Haim Saban (Egypt) – $3.1B – Media & Investment
- Marc Lasry (Morocco) – $1.9B – Hedge Funds
- Bharat Desai (Kenya) – $1.6B – IT Consulting
- Rodney Sacks (South Africa) – $3.6B – Energy Drinks
- Patrick Soon-Shiong (South Africa) – $5.6B – Pharmaceuticals
Read Also: Nigerian doctor wins Guinness World Record for largest drawing
Their stories reflect Forbes‘ ongoing thesis that 93% of immigrant billionaires are self-made, driven by what it describes as the “immigrant mindset” — one defined by risk-taking, reinvention, and resilience.
Methodology
Forbes compiles its annual immigrant billionaire list using publicly available stock prices and currency exchange rates, with valuations measured as of March 7, 2025. Private businesses are assessed using price-to-earnings and price-to-sales multiples of comparable public companies.
Only immigrants currently residing in the U.S. or building primary business operations there were considered, excluding names like Mo Ibrahim (Sudan/UK) and Nathan Kirsh (South Africa/UK).
As global markets evolve, the stories of Bayo Ogunlesi and Tope Awotona stand as testaments to the enduring strength of the American dream — and Nigeria’s growing stake in it.
Their achievements not only represent personal milestones but also signal a broader shift: the rise of African excellence on the world’s most competitive business stages.
