The 14th-century king of the Mali Empire, Mansa Musa, is commonly considered the wealthiest individual in history. Modern historians estimate that his net worth was $400 billion to $500 billion in today’s dollars. He ascended to the throne in 1312 following the mysterious journey taken by his brother to the Atlantic Ocean, and within no time, he had extended the empire, annexing more than 20 cities with half of the precious gold resources of the Old World.
His histrionic pilgrimage to the Mecca of 1324 demonstrated his corporate wealth in the gold trade. Caravan reports also record him giving out so much gold in Cairo that the value of the metal dropped over a decade, putting the local economy in short-term peril.
In addition to material wealth, Mansaa Musa spent a lot of money on education and architecture. He also turned Timbuktu into a learning center in the world by ordering the building of mosques, libraries, and schools, including the renowned Sankore University, where students came to study not only in Timbuktu but also from Africa in general and the Islamic world. He also returned the Islamic architects, such as Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who designed the famous Djinguereber Mosque.
Though everything he built, as well as his lavish gifts, fastened his legacy, the empire started to fall apart following his death in 1337. However, his rule is an icon of the African golden era of culture, learning, and unequalled wealth.
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