America’s Richest Self-Made Women of Colour in 2019
Highlights From Forbes’ 2019 List of America’s Richest Self Made Women
Forbes has released its list of 80 women who have made the 2019 list of America’s richest self-made women. We are happy to see more women of colour appearing on the list, trailblazers in their own right, making a name — and fortune — and keeping us inspired.
Here are a few of the many woman we are celebrating:
#5 – Thai Lee, $3 Billion
Thai Lee is the CEO and President of IT provider SHI International which has over 15,000 customers including Boeing and AT&T. It’s made $10 billion in sales last year. Thai is a Thai-born Korean American billionaire businesswomen and her company is the largest woman-owned business in the US. What’s more, Thai has also ranked at #354 in the 2018 Forbes 400 list – the definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans.
#37 – Rihanna, $600 Million
America’s richest female musician goes to Rihanna. At only 31 years old, Rihanna has made tons of money from her music but the fortune comes from her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, co-owned with LVM. Just last year, Rihanna generated approximately $570 million in revenue however Forbes estimates that the operation is worth more than $3 billion. With Rihanna’s new luxury clothing label partnered with LVMH, Fenty, she is also the first black woman to run a major fashion house in Paris. In the music industry, Rihanna has overtaken Madonna by $30 million, Céline Dion by $150 million, and Beyoncé by $200 million. What does Rihanna have to say about all of this? “I never thought I’d make this much money, so a number is not going to stop me from working. I’m not being driven by money right now… I’m working out of what I love to do, what I’m passionate about. Work will change when my life changes in the future but an amount of money is not going to stop that.”
#53 – Janice Bryant Howroyd
The founder and CEO of ActOne is Janice Bryant Howroyd, who is also the first African American woman to run a billion-dollar business. Her business provides workforce solutions, such as temporary staffing. With just a $900 loan from her mother, a fax machine, and a phone in 1978, the business has bloomed into the $950 million revenue it is today. With more than 17,000 clients and 2600 employees in 19 countries, it’s safe to say that this 66 year old has made it.
#80 – Serena Williams, $225 Million
Serena Williams, the tennis legend, is the first athlete to ever make this exclusive list. Her revenue comes from her athleticism on the courts (a 23-time Grand Slam winner), however, her endorsements with Nike and many other advertising outlets have made her worth an estimated $225 million. Serena also launched Serena Ventures, an investment firm focused on companies founded by women and minorities with a portfolio of 34 startups worth at least $10 million. “I launched Serena Ventures with the mission of giving opportunities to founders across an array of industries. Serena Ventures invests in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity, and opportunity”.
