The Richest Person in History: African King Mansa Musa I
When you think about the richest man in history, names like Henry Ford, Bill Gates, and King Solomon may come to mind. However, according to Celebrity Net Worth, the title goes to someone lesser-known: Mansa Musa I, with an estimated net worth of $400 billion. Musa ruled the Malian Empire in West Africa from 1280–1337 and is said to have been almost incomprehensibly wealthy. His empire was full of riches, including gold and salt, and he garnered even more wealth through trade, making him the wealthiest person in history.
The Journey That Made Mansa Musa Famous
Mansa Musa became famous not only for his wealth but also for his extravagant Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He traveled with an entourage of 60,000 people, including soldiers, slaves, and animals laden with gold. During his journey, he made such lavish displays of wealth that he inadvertently caused economic turmoil in the areas he passed through. Although his generosity and grandeur put him and his kingdom on the map, the crash of the economy and disapproval of his lavish spending led to a tarnished reputation among some groups.
Education and Religion
Musa was also known for his focus on spreading Islam and proper education, building mosques, schools, libraries, and universities throughout his empire and along his Hajj route. Despite his immense wealth, Musa was incredibly generous, giving away much of his wealth to citizens and to fund various buildings and institutions. However, his fortune did not last for long after his death, with civil wars, invaders, and the arrival of Europeans leading to the eventual demise of his once prosperous empire.
