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Forbes has just rolled out its 2025 edition of America’s Richest Immigrants, and if you thought billionaire immigration was slowing down, think again.

A total of 125 immigrants, hailing from 41 countries, now account for 14% of all U.S.-based billionaires — and a jaw-dropping 18% of the country’s total billionaire wealth.

According to Forbes, the vast majority of these ultra-wealthy imports – “93% of these individuals are self-made” – built their fortunes through old-school hustle in high-stakes sectors like tech and finance.

South Africa leads Africa’s billionaire wave, and while Elon Musk naturally grabs headlines, he’s far from the only name in bold.

“One of the most notable names is Elon Musk, born in South Africa, who ranks as the richest immigrant and the richest person globally with an estimated fortune of $393.1 billion.”

Yes, Musk is still the headline act, worth more than several countries and fuelled by a mix of rocket fuel and relentless PR, but he’s not the whole show. He may have taken the scenic route to America via Canada, but let’s not forget the other heavy hitters who’ve also turned American capitalism into a billionaire-making machine.

South Africa’s other exports include:

Nigeria, meanwhile, is climbing fast with two serious players:

And representing the rest of the continent:

Here’s the full lineup of African-born billionaires on the 2025 Forbes immigrant list:

1st	Elon Musk	$393.1B	Tesla, SpaceX	South Africa
34th	Patrick Soon-Shiong	$5.6B	Pharmaceuticals	South Africa
54th	Rodney Sacks & Family	$3.6B	Energy Drinks	South Africa
61st	Haim Saban	$3.1B	TV, Investments	Egypt
77th	Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi	$2.4B	Private Equity	Nigeria
89th	Marc Lasry	$1.9B	Hedge Funds	Morocco
97th	Bharat Desai	$1.6B	IT Consulting	Kenya
106th	Tope Awotona	$1.4B	Software	Nigeria

So while Musk may dominate the rich list like it’s his personal leaderboard, the broader story is this: African-born immigrants are shaping the top tiers of American business, from pharmaceuticals to fintech, hedge funds to hydration. And the trend line is only going up.

Back in 2022, there were 92 immigrant billionaires. Now, there are 125. That’s not just demographic drift, that’s a full-blown reshaping of who’s making the money and how.

As Forbes puts it: “The ‘immigrant mindset’ [is] a relentless drive built on resilience, appreciation for opportunity, and a unique ability to innovate from outside the conventional mold.”

In short? Don’t underestimate outsiders – they’re not just knocking on the door. They’re buying the building.

[Source: Business Insider]