Whenever anyone puts a list together of the wealthiest Americans Oprah Winfrey is somewhere lurking in the top.  When Forbes put together their inaugural list of The wealthiest Black Americans it was no surprise that she would top the list.  Despite current economic conditions and declining support following her public endorsement of President Obama, Oprah boasts a net worth of $2.7 billion making her the only billionaire on the list of whom interestingly enough are all self-made.  This speaks volumes about the degree to which African Americans wealth is a relatively new concept.

Tiger Woods, worth an estimated $600 million, ranks second on the list. While his career winnings total $80 million, his annual prize represents less than 15% of his income.  Its his marketability however that has produced his wealth profile.   With endorsements from Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Accenture and AT&T, his ouf the course earnings top $100 million each year.

Effected most by the economic decline, Black Entertainment Television founder, Robert Johnson is third on the list.  Though Johnson became the first African American billionaire in 2000 follwoing the sale of BET to Viacom for $3 billioion, sagging Viacom and CBS stock, plus investments in real estate, hotels and banks have been victimized by the recession reducing his estimated worth to $550 million.  On the flip side his ex-wife, Sheila Johnson, owner of the Salamander LLC and the Washington Mystics is on the come up and ranks seventh with $400 million.

Rounding out the top five are two former rivals turned entrepreneurs, Michael Jordan ($525 million) and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr. ($500 million.)  While they both made loads of money on the court and off, they’ve managed to take their popularity in sport and translate it to dollars in their current business ventures.

Here’s the rest of the list:

6) Bill Cosby (Net Worth $450 Million)
7) Sheila Johnson (Net Worth $400 Million)
R. Donahue Peebles ($350 Million) Real Estate
9) Berry Gordy Jr. ($325 Million)
10) Quintin Primo III ($300 Million) Real Estate
11) Don King ($290 Million)  SURPRISING?!
12) Janice Bryant Howroyd & family ($250 Million) Staffing and Investments
13) Herman J. Russell ($200 Million) Construction
14)Ulysses Bridgeman, Jr. ($200 Million) NBA/ Restaurants
15)Tracy Maitland ($150 Million) Investments
16)Alphonse Fletcher, Jr. ($150 Million) Investments
17)Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter ($150 Million)
18)Kobe Bryant ($140 Million)
19) Shaquille O’Neal ($130 Million)
20)Kenneth I. Chenault ($120 Million) American Express