Two Nigerians Named Among America’s Richest Immigrants in 2025

Two Nigerians Named Among America’s Richest Immigrants in 2025

Forbes has named Nigerian-born billionaires Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi and Tope Awotona in its 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants, spotlighting their remarkable financial achievements and contributions to the U.S. economy. The list, which includes 125 billionaires from 41 countries, reveals that immigrant billionaires now account for 14% of the total billionaire population in the United States and hold 18% of the nation’s billionaire wealth.

Ogunlesi, a prominent figure in private equity, is ranked 77th with a net worth of $2.4 billion. Awotona, who made his fortune as the founder of Calendly, a popular scheduling software company, is listed at 106th with a net worth of $1.4 billion. They join a growing list of African-born billionaires reshaping the financial landscape of the U.S., including Egypt’s Haim Saban ($3.1B, TV and investments), Morocco’s Marc Lasry $1.9B, hedge funds), and Bharat Desai of Kenya ($1.6B, IT consulting).

Leading the overall list is Elon Musk, the South African-born CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, with a net worth of \$393.1 billion. He is followed by fellow South Africans Patrick Soon-Shiong (\$5.6B, pharmaceuticals) and Rodney Sacks (\$3.6B, energy drinks). Other top names on the list include Sergey Brin (\$139.7B), Jensen Huang (\$137.9B), and Thomas Peterffy (\$67.9B).

Forbes highlighted that 93% of the immigrant billionaires featured are self-made, building their fortunes in sectors like technology, finance, and media. The rise in numbers—from 92 in 2022 to 125 in 2025—signals a demographic shift and underscores what Forbes describes as the “immigrant mindset”: resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of opportunity that continues to shape the American economy.