Meet the 8 Richest Nigerians in America

Let’s unveil the 8 richest Nigerians in the United States of America. The United States of America is universally agreed to be the most vibrant economy and the most advanced economy in the world. The US is also known as the ever greener, ever fertile ground upon which dreams are nourished to stardom. The land of opportunity. People from all walks of life come to America with their heads full of dreams, but nothing in their backpacks. In less than a decade, these dreams would have transformed into a mega money-making machine, allowing them to live the life of their dreams. Such is the story of millions of migrants in America.

Remarkably, Nigerian migrants in America are one of the most thriving settler communities in the United States, excelling in every facet of human endeavour. According to African Mind magazine, the median household income for Nigerian-Americans was $72,577, slightly below that of White (non-Hispanic) Americans ($74,932), but (far) higher than that of Black Americans ($46,774) and the overall US household income ($67,717). In business and finance, Nigerians are at the top of the ladder among the African migrants in America, championing investments and controlling critical capital and human resources, leading to millions of dollars in ROI. 

Unsurprisingly, some Nigerians have joined the millionaires club in America, with at least three already elevated to the billionaires’ club. In this piece, we want to peek into the lives of eight of the richest Nigerians in America. Interestingly, most of these extraordinary achievers share astonishing stories of humble beginnings before climbing to the pinnacle of success in their respective career paths. We run their ranks from the lowest (#8) to the highest in #1, according to their generally acknowledged Net Worths.

8) AKEEM OLAJUWON (Former N.B.A. Most Valuable Player in 1994, Now a Real Estate Investor)

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born in January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria), also known as Hakeem the Dream, is a former Nigerian-American NBA player and successful businessman. Dubbed “The Dream,” Olajuwon started off his playing career in soccer and ultimately turned his sights on basketball when he was 15. He transferred to the United States to play for the University of Houston, where he starred for the “Phi Slama Jama” squad.

The No. 1 overall draft pick of the Houston Rockets in 1984, Olajuwon had a standout career in the NBA, twice leading the Rockets to the NBA championship (1994, 1995). He was also a 12-time N.B.A. All-Star and was voted the league’s most valuable player in 1994. Following his retirement in 2002, Olajuwon got into real estate investment and made a fortune through his business investments.

Hakeem Olajuwon now has a net worth of approximately $300 million.

7) Dr. IKENA OKEZIE (CEO and Co-Founder of Somatus)   

Dr. Ikenna Okezie is a Nigerian -American businessman and co-founder and CEO of Somatus , the nation’s leading kidney care company. Okezie was born in Nigeria, immigrated to the U.S. at two and grew up in Detroit. He studied Economics as an undergraduate at Yale University, graduating cum laude, and earned a joint MD and MBA from Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School.

Okezie founded Somatus in 2016, a company that focuses on early detection and prevention of kidney disease. The company through its patented RenalSense Technology, including its proprietary RenalIQ platform, creates #realworld Renaltees by personalizing each patient’s therapy. As of 2022, “SOMATUS” has served over 150,000 members and raised large amounts of funding, costing $2.5 billion. Okezie has a net worth of approximately $350 million, which he made by revolutionising kidney care. His revolutionary approach continues to serve a great cause in advancing healthcare and provides hope to millions of chronic kidney disease patients.

6) DOUGLAS EZE (CEO and Founder, Largo Financial Services) 

Nigerian American Entrepreneur Douglas Eze  hails from the family of Eze of Mgboko Umuogba in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State of Nigeria, and he is the Founder / CEO of the company known as Largo Financial Services which was established in 2000. Eze Arts – is a Nigerian-American contemporary novelist, motivational speaker and wealth strategist. He’s passionate about teaching individuals and small businesses how to become financially independent.

Eze is among the elite few in the financial services profession to be welcomed into the respected Million Dollar Roundtable. He has been honored with many of the industry’s top awards, including the ACE Award by the American Classic Agency. His company, Largo Financial Services, is based in insurance, annuities and retirement planning and is dedicated to helping people see opportunities for retirement that they didn’t even know were there.

Eze is also the author of Creating Generational Wealth: What the Super Wealthy Know That You Need to Know. Net worth: It’s about $400m.

5) DR. AKINDELE KOLADE (CEO/President, Cal Psychiatry and Principal Investigator, Kolade Research Institute)

Akindele Kolade, MD is a Nigerian-American Psychiatrist & Business Tycoon who has gained popularity both in the medical field and the business world. Born in Nigeria, he faced many roadblocks in following his dreams, but later pursued medicine at the University of Palacký in the Czech Republic. In the United States, he later did his psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and addiction medicine.

Dr Kolade is CEO/President of Cal Psychiatry and Principal Investigator at Kolade Research Institute. He has over 20 years of consulting experience for major hospitals and pioneering ventures in the fields of psychiatry, addiction treatment, and mental health advocacy. In the world of business, he is a serial entrepreneur with interests in restaurants, clubs, and pharmacies.

Dr. Kolade’s worth is estimated at $500 million, a testimony to how good he has done in different industries. A millionaire emerging from a nobody demonstrates his tenacity, his put-on-the-line and his sense of service to others.

4) KASE LAWAL (Chairman and CEO of CAMAC International Corporation)

Lukman Kase Lawal was born on June 30, 1954, in Ibadan, Nigeria, and he is a Nigerian-American businessman. He graduated from Texas Southern University with a degree in chemistry in 1976 and later received an M.B.A. from Prairie View A&M University in 1978. Lawal, 71, had worked as an engineer and a researcher before entering the energy business.

He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Houston-based energy corporation CAMAC International and has held the position of chairman in Erin Energy Corporation and Allied Energy Corporation. During his tenure, the CAMAC group of companies grew even more internationally, particularly into oil drilling and production. His business sense has not gone unnoticed; he was named a finalist for U.S. Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 1994.

In addition to commerce, Lawal has participated in civic and community initiatives. He joined the Port of Houston Authority Commission and backs African American-owned businesses and institutions, including Unity National Bank. Thanks to his success in the oil business and other enterprises, he’s worth an estimated $800 million to $1 billion.

3) Wemimo Abbey (Co Founder of Esusu, A Fintech Company)

Meet Wemimo Abbey, a leading Nigerian American entrepreneur, born 1992 in Lagos, Nigeria & co-founder @ Esusu a VC backed fintech company that’s democratizing access to financial mobility. Abbey, who was raised in Lagos, struggled with money after his father died when he was two. But Abbey succeeded in school, in spite of his challenges, and wound up getting a bachelor’s in business management from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in public administration from NYU.

Abbey is a co-founder of Esusu, a company founded in 2018, along with Samir Goel. The company monitors and reports rent payments to credit bureaus so that renters can build credit, and serves more than 1.8 million Americans. Esusu became a unicorn in 2022 when it was valued at $1 billion. Abbey also founded Clean Water for Everyone, which provides clean water to underserved communities.

Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 and TIME NEXT 100 Abbey’s current net worth is believed to be $1.2 billion.

2) TOPE AWOTONA (CEO and Founder CALENDLY)

Tope Awotona (born May 4, 1981) is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and founder of Calendly, a scheduling software company. Born and raised in Lagos, Awotona’s life was scarred by tragedy when his father died in a carjacking—an event that has shaped his career ambitions. As a teenager, he immigrated to the United States and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.

Awotona started Calendly in 2013 after growing frustrated with scheduling meetings. He bootstrapped the company with his life savings, and by 2021 it had grown into a $3 billion business. Today Calendly helps millions schedule meetings without the back-and-forth, for businesses and individuals around the world.

With a net worth of around $1.4 billion, Awotona is celebrated as one of the the wealthiest immigrantss in America.

1) ADEBAYO OGUNLESI (Global Investor, Holds BlackRock Inc. 12 million shares worth $9.5billion)

Adebayo Ogunlesi, born on December 20, 1953, in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, is a Nigerian-American lawyer, investment banker, and entrepreneur. He attended King’s College, Lagos, before earning a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He later obtained a JD and MBA from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

Ogunlesi began his career as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and later joined Credit Suisse, where he rose to become Global Head of Investment Banking. In 2006, he founded Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm managing over $100 billion in assets, including stakes in major airports like Gatwick and Edinburgh.

In January 2024, GIP was sold to BlackRock Inc. for $12.5 billion. The deal included $3 billion in cash and 12 million BlackRock shares, valued at $9.5 billion. Following the sale, Ogunlesi joined BlackRock’s board and global executive committee, further solidifying his influence in the financial sector.

Ogunlesi’s current investments span various sectors, including energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure. He retains stakes in major projects like Gatwick Airport, Sydney Airport, and renewable energy ventures. With a net worth estimated at $2.1 billion, Ogunlesi continues to shape global infrastructure development and remains a prominent figure in finance and investment.

Adebayo Ogunlesi was born on 20 December 1953 in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian-American lawyer, investment banker, and businessman. He attended King’s College, Lagos, and later Oxford University, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He subsequently earned a JD and MBA from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

A former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ogunlesi worked for Credit Suisse where he eventually became its Global Head of Investment Banking. In 2006, he was one of the founders of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm that manages more than $100 billion, including stakes in some of the world’s busiest airports, like Gatwick and Edinburgh.

In January 2024 GIP was sold to BlackRock Inc for $12.5billion. The deal consisted of $3 billion in cash and 12 million shares of BlackRock stock, then worth $9.5 billion. After the deal, Ogunlesi was added to BlackRock’s board and global executive committee, expanding his reach in the financial industry.

Most of Ogunlesi’s recent investments cut across, energy, transportation and digital infrastructure. He still holds stakes in projects like Gatwick Airport, Sydney Airport and renewable energy projects. With net worth estimated at $2.1 billion, Ogunlesi still actively defines global infrastructure growth and remains a financial and investment icon.