Meet Mansa Musa, The Richest Man In History Who Ever Lived

An African ruler from the 1300s, Mansa Musa I is considered the richest man who ever lived. According to reports, Mansa Musa net worth was a whopping $400 billion. Yes, you read that right, he was a billionaire in that era. Because of his richness, he got the name, the ‘King of Kings’.

People say money can’t buy you happiness, and even if it’s true, we can’t deny the fact that people remember you when you are rich. Rich people do brag about their wealth as they get to live a lavish life. The emperor too left no stone unturned to brag about his wealth.

Who was Mansa Musa?

Everything about Musa comes from Arabic sources written after his iconic hajj, especially from the writings of Al-Umari and Ibn Khaldun. During his hajj, Musa made friends with officials such as Ibn Amir Hajib while in Cairo. They learned about him and his country and later passed on that information to historians such as Al-Umari.

The two 17th-century manuscripts written in Timbuktu, the Tarikh Ibn al-Mukhtar[c] and the Tarikh al-Sudan contain additional information about Musa.

Born in 1280, Musa became the emperor in 1312. Musa’s father was named Faga Leye and his mother’s name may have been Kanku. He ruled for 25 years and under his reign, the empire of Mali expanded to a great extent. Present-day nations of Mali, Senegal, Niger, Faso, Burkina, Ivory Coast, and Guinea in Africa were under the rule of the African king.

According to the Tarikh al-Fattash, Musa’s wife’s name was Inari Konte.

The Kingdom of Mali

In the Middle Ages, Mansa Musa was the emperor of the Mali Empire, an Islamic West African state. The wealth of any living person today would be less than that of emperor Mansa

The Malian Empire covered modern-day Ghana, Timbuktu, and Mali. His rule lasted between 1312–37.

Musa produced staggering quantities of salt and gold which was attributed to his immense wealth. Trading slaves and ivory was also the source of his wealth.

Musa recruited scholars like Andalusian poet Abu Ishaq al-Sahili, from the wider Muslim world to travel to Mali, and Timbuktu became a center of Islamic learning. One of the popular construction projects during his reign is the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu.

The legendary pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca

Musa decided to embark on Hajj in 1324-1325 and the pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five main pillars of Islam. Musa was so generous that gave away his gold along his path to Mecca which put his kingdom on the map.

Musa built a mosque every Friday during his journey and by giving away gold, he destabilized the economic structure in several parts of the region for twelve years.

Mansa Musa’s legendary 6500 km trip to Mecca escorted by a caravan of 60,000 people is one of the reasons for his fame. It was one of the greatest caravans to ever cross the Sahara.

The caravan took an entire day to pass, he was accompanied by thousands of servants carrying over 20 tonnes of gold, with horses, elephants, mules, and camels. The entourage included 8,000 courtiers, 12,000 servants, and 100 camel loads of pure gold. He was so wealthy that even his servants wore fine Persian silk and brocades

Mansa Musa was so famous for his Hajj pilgrimage, several famous historians documented him including Ibn Battuta. Being a devoted Muslim, Musa build several mosques during his rule.

It is speculated that to show off his wealth and the flourishing economy of Mali, this huge procession was held, however, this cannot be authenticated. Though his intent is still unknown, this caravan got included in a map – the 1375 Catalan Atlas as it was so massive.

Throughout his life, Musa went on to establish many more mosques, madrassas, and other educational institutions and universities. Being the wealthiest and most powerful Mansa of Mali, Musa’s reign is commonly regarded as Mali’s golden age.

Mansa Musa, the richest man of all time

On his Hajj, Musa may have brought approx. 18 tons of gold worth over US$957 million in 2022. He spread rumors that gold grew like a plant in his kingdom.

Besides being the richest man to have ever lived, Mansa Musa was celebrated for his righteousness and generosity.

Being one of the largest empires in West Africa, The Mali Empire plays a huge role in the spread of its language, laws, and customs in determining the culture of West Africa today.

In the middle ages and even today, Mansa Musa’s wealth can surpass the richness of any living person.

Mansa Musa’s donation of gold led to Egypt’s economic downfall

While passing through Cairo during his journey to Mecca, Musa, the ‘King of Kings’ donated so much gold to the poor that he brought poverty to the whole of Egypt. The price of gold went down across the country so much that the economy collapsed.

Mansa Musa’s death

It is believed that in 1325, Musa died shortly after returning from Mecca, though the exact date is not known. No one knows what happened to all that treasure.

During his rule, he became one of the most powerful rulers of his day and extended the reach of his trade ports greatly. The stories of his massive convoy are believed to have left a long-lasting impression that has been passed on long after his death.

Also read: 13 Interesting Facts About World’s Billionaires That Will Blow Your Mind