Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires

“By telling the little-known stories of six pioneering African American entrepreneurs, Black Fortunes makes a worthy contribution to black history, to business history, and to American history.”—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times Bestselling author of Hidden Figures

Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of industrious, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success.

Mary Ellen Pleasant, used her Gold Rush wealth to further the cause of abolitionist John Brown. Robert Reed Church, became the largest landowner in Tennessee. Hannah Elias, the mistress of a New York City millionaire, used the land her lover gave her to build an empire in Harlem. Orphan and self-taught chemist Annie Turnbo-Malone, developed the first national brand of hair care products. Mississippi school teacher O. W. Gurley, developed a piece of Tulsa, Oklahoma, into a “town” for wealthy black professionals and craftsmen that would become known as “the Black Wall Street.” Although Madam C. J Walker was given the title of America’s first female black millionaire, she was not. She was the first, however, to flaunt and openly claim her wealth—a dangerous and revolutionary act.

Nearly all the unforgettable personalities in this amazing collection were often attacked, demonized, or swindled out of their wealth. Black Fortunes illuminates as never before the birth of the black business titan and a vital chapter of Black history.

This compelling work of narrative history reveals the hidden stories of America’s first Black millionaires:

• Gilded Age Titans: Meet the six trailblazers—including Mary Ellen Pleasant, who used her Gold Rush wealth to fund abolition, and Robert Reed Church, a former slave who became Tennessee’s largest landowner.
• Self-Made Millionaires: Discover the ingenuity of entrepreneurs like Annie Turnbo-Malone, who developed the first national brand of hair care products, and O. W. Gurley, the visionary behind Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street.”
• Hidden American History: Uncover the truth about Madam C. J. Walker, who wasn’t the first self-made Black female millionaire, and Hannah Elias, who used a lover’s gifts to build an empire in Harlem.
• Stories of Resilience: Learn how these unforgettable figures were often attacked and swindled out of their fortunes, yet persevered to become business titans against the backdrop of the Jim Crow era.