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See the Two Nigerians Named Among America’s Wealthiest Immigrants by Forbes in 2025

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 14th, 2025.

See the Two Nigerians Named Among America’s Wealthiest Immigrants by Forbes in 2025

Nigerian-born entrepreneurs Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi and Tope Awotona have earned well-deserved spots on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants — a remarkable recognition of their achievements in the global financial and tech arenas.

Flying the Nigerian Flag High

Among 125 billionaires representing 41 different countries, Ogunlesi and Awotona stand out as proud Nigerian success stories, making significant strides in private equity and technology respectively.

Meet the Nigerian Trailblazers:

1. Adebayo Ogunlesi – Estimated Net Worth: $2.4 Billion

Ranked 77th, Ogunlesi is a titan in the investment world. As the head of Global Infrastructure Partners, he’s led major deals across aviation, energy, and infrastructure sectors. A former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Bayo’s influence in global finance runs deep — and Nigerians are hardly surprised.

2. Tope Awotona – Estimated Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

Coming in at 106th, Awotona is the mind behind Calendly, a widely used scheduling tool that started as a side project and grew into a tech powerhouse. His rise from Lagos to Silicon Valley is a testament to what happens when innovation meets determination.

Immigrants Driving the American Dream

According to Forbes, 93% of the immigrants on the 2025 list are self-made, having built their fortunes from the ground up across diverse industries including:

Technology

Finance

Pharmaceuticals

Even energy drinks!

Immigrant billionaires now account for 14% of all U.S. billionaires, holding 18% of total billionaire wealth — highlighting just how influential foreign-born talent has become in shaping America’s economic landscape.

Africa in the Billionaire Mix

Aside from Nigeria’s strong representation, several other African-born moguls are making waves:

Elon Musk (South Africa) – $393.1B

Patrick Soon-Shiong (South Africa) – $5.6B

Rodney Sacks (South Africa) – $3.6B

Haim Saban (Egypt) – $3.1B

Marc Lasry (Morocco) – $1.9B

Bharat Desai (Kenya) – $1.6B

Their stories are a celebration of the bold, risk-taking spirit that defines the immigrant journey.

Top 10 Richest Immigrants in America (2025):

1. Elon Musk – $393.1B

2. Sergey Brin – $139.7B

3. Jensen Huang – $137.9B

4. Thomas Peterffy – $67.9B

5. Miriam Adelson & Family – $33.4B

6. Rupert Murdoch & Family – $24B

7. Peter Thiel – $21.8B

8. Jay Chaudhry – $17.9B

9. Jan Koum – $16.9B

10. John Tu – $14.1B

Final Thoughts

For Nigerians, this recognition isn’t just a moment of pride — it’s a powerful reminder that excellence has no borders. From the boardrooms of New York to the tech corridors of California, Ogunlesi and Awotona prove that with vision, drive, and a bit of hustle, Nigerians

can thrive on the world stage.

Naija to the world — and we’re just getting started.