Mansa Musa: The Richest Man in History

It is believed that Mansa Musa was the richest man in the world. He had immense wealth. He was a giant in the business of salt and gold. When he traveled for Hajj, he led a convoy that included eighty camels. This one question has sparked an infinity war among fan groups for years.
Adding our share of fuel to the fire, we add another question. Who is the richest among Marvel’s heroes?. Iron Man’s name might come up in the answer to this question. But then there is T’Challa, aka Black Panther. Who is the king of an entire empire?. Who has a stock of the world’s rarest metal, vibranium.
Who is the richest man in the world in the year 2025?
Without a doubt, the answer will be Elon Musk. Whom his fans also call the real Iron Man. But if we talk about history, there is one person who leaves this Iron Man behind. And not only Iron Man, Bezos, Adani, and Big Gates—if Musk accumulates their wealth, then they also do not stand anywhere in front of this person.
Look at the coincidence; this man was also from Africa. He was the king of an empire. And he had the world’s most precious metal mines. Who was the richest man in history? And how much wealth did he have? Let’s find out. (richest man)
Mansa Musa Early Life
Mansa Musa was born about 740 years ago, in 1280 AD, in some unknown place in Africa. At the age of 33, he became the ruler of the Mali Empire after Abu Bakr II. Musa’s empire included the present-day Ghazna, Timbuktu, and the vast region of Mali.
Mansa Musa-Each of which weighed about 136 kg
Wherever his convoy passed through, Musa would distribute gold coins among the beggars he saw there. After the death of his predecessor, Abu Bakr II, Mansa Musa became the ruler of the Mali Empire in 1312. This was the time when European countries were looking for resources.
Natural resources like salt and gold were abundant here. Musa’s West African empire was believed to be the world’s largest gold producer. That was at a time when the demand for gold was increasing rapidly in the world. After becoming the king, he got the title of Mansa.
Which means Sultan, Conqueror, or Emperor. During the reign of Musa, this Samridhi empire spread to a large part of West Africa. Even from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to present-day Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria were also part of the Mali empire. As the area grew, trade also progressed.
Mansa Musa – 1324, history begins
Mansa Musa’s Caravan This story begins in the year 1324. A caravan left for Mecca from the empire of Mali in North Africa. There was no dearth of people going to Mecca. But the caravan that left from Mali was something else altogether. 500 horses laden with gold were walking ahead. 48 thousand common and special people, each of whom was wearing a silk robe.
The king of Mali was walking in the middle. And with him were 12 thousand slaves. Besides these, the caravan also included camels. On which camels hoarded gold. Gold was the most precious thing in the world, and the Mali empire had dominion over its mines.
Public life style
Due to this, the standard of living of the people there also improved, and Musa’s army consisted of two lakh soldiers. Out of this, only 40,000 were archers. Even today’s big countries cannot afford to keep such a large army. Until 1324 AD, the world did not know about Musa’s growing wealth.
Then, dressed in the finest Persian silk, holding a gold stick in his hand, approximately 500 people followed Mansa Musa’s horse. This convoy included thousands of soldiers, employees, and slaves. According to an estimate, about sixty thousand people participated in this convoy led by Musa.
Mansa Musa – Richest person in the world
The length of the convoy is about four feet. Although there are no proper documents about the exact number of people who participated in the journey. But historical records suggest someone distributed gold to the poor. wherever Musa got this knowledge.
The king of Mali was so rich that before going to Mecca, he attacked other kingdoms to collect slaves. The name of this king was Mansa Musa. However, calling Musa both Mansa and Raja is a repetition. Because in the language of Mali, Mansa means king. As of 2023, Mali is a small country.
But till the 15th century, it was a very big sultanate. Which included Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria. There were gold mines in this area. Which made its king the richest person in the world. (Mansa Musa’s history).
The representative told Musa the king requested a meeting. But Musa refused to meet him. “I’ve only come to Mecca, not to meet anyone,” he replied.
Mansa Musa – Hajj pilgrimage
Musa, witnessing the poverty of Cairo, is said to have scattered gold coins in the streets. The poor of Egypt had never seen such wealth before. Due to receiving countless donations, the poor there became rich overnight. In such a situation, there was a good.
After returning from his Hajj pilgrimage, Musa got many mosques constructed in Mali. As an important city, Timbuktu flourished under Musa, gaining schools, universities, libraries, and mosques.
After the Mecca visit, the name of Moses spread outside Africa. By then, the world knew of Moses’s riches. The stories of Moses’ riches started spreading to Europe. Moses’s wealth equally astonished Europeans.
Mansa Musa – distributed so much gold that the economy was ruined
Mansa Musa had become famous in the entire Middle East by now. Because wherever he passed, he used to distribute gold there. There were such stories about him that he built a mosque every week. He had a lot of money. So much gold, as much as anyone could have.
According to historian Shihab Al Umri, “Such a wealth was not openly displayed in Egypt before.” Seeing his pomp and show, the Sultan of Cairo was eager to meet him. But Mansa Musa kept refusing again and again. Finally, the Sultan’s representative understood the reason for this refusal.
Actually, the rule of meeting the Sultan was that one had to bow before him and kiss the Sultan’s hand. The representative cursed Musa a lot. And finally convinced him to meet the Sultan. Mansa Musa and the Sultan met. But Musa clearly refused to bow before the Sultan. Still, the Sultan made Musa sit next to him, and both of them talked for a long time.
Gold distributed among people
The Sultan arranged for the stay of Musa and his entire caravan. He welcomed them. Seeing this, Musa was so happy that he distributed a large part of the gold he had brought with him among the people of Cairo. In return, he received many gifts. He moved ahead with them.
Gold created economic crisis

Musa’s gold distribution in Cairo was so immense that the city was reportedly awash in it. Gold was a priceless metal. It was hardly available. It made the people of Cairo rich. But this also created a problem. Basic principle of economics.
If suddenly there is more money in the market and the resources remain the same, then inflation increases. Musa distributed so much gold in Cairo that inflation in Cairo reached the sky overnight, and it took 12 years for the economy to come back on track.
How much money did Mansa Musa have?
Musa returned to Mali from Cairo via Mecca. By now, the stories of his wealth had spread all over the world. The European states started collecting more information about him. People from Europe came to Mali to verify the truth about him.
At that time, a map guided travel in this region. Also known as the Catalan Atlas. Seeing the splendor of Mali, the Europeans not only included Mali in this atlas, but a picture of Mansa Musa was also added to this atlas. In which he holds a gold ball in his hand.It was only after the trip to Mecca that the scholars published the story of Musa on paper for the first time.
Death
Billionaire Musa surprised the Europeans; they came to see the billionaire Moses. Till his death, the stories of the huge caravan of Moses’ Hajj pilgrimage remained on people’s tongues. Historians believe that Musa died around 1337 AD. These stories made Moses famous in the historical atlas.
In this atlas made by Spanish cartographer Abraham Crescus, Moses is depicted sitting on a golden throne, wearing a crown and holding a gold coin and a scepter. Catlin Atlas is an important map that shows the places of that time.
Accounts of this journey are mostly based on oral testimony and differing written records, so it’s difficult to determine the exact details. But what most agree on is the extravagant scale of the excursion.
Golden King
Chroniclers describe an entourage of tens of thousands of soldiers, civilians, and slaves; 500 heralds bearing gold staffs and dressed in fine silks; and many camels and horses bearing an abundance of gold bars.
Stopping in cities such as Cairo, Mansa Musa is said to have spent massive quantities of gold, giving to the poor, buying souvenirs, and even having mosques built along the way. In fact, his spending may have destabilized the regional economy, causing mass inflation.
Musa Journey
This journey reportedly took over a year, and by the time Mansa Musa returned, tales of his amazing wealth had spread to the ports of the Mediterranean. Mali and its people elevated the king to near legendary status. Their inclusion cemented their status in the 1375 Catalan Atlas.
One of the most important world maps of Medieval Europe, it depicted the king holding a scepter and a gleaming gold nugget. Mansa Musa had literally put his empire and himself on the map. But material riches weren’t the king’s only concern.
Rich king Legacy
As a devout Muslim, he took a particular interest in Timbuktu, already a center of religion and learning prior to its annexation. Upon returning from his pilgrimage, he had the great Djinguereber Mosque built there with the help of an Andalusian architect.
He also established a major university, further elevating the city’s reputation and attracting scholars and students from all over the Islamic world. Under Mansa Musa, the empire became urbanized, with schools and mosques in hundreds of densely populated towns.
The king’s rich legacy persisted for generations, and to this day, there are mausoleums, libraries, and mosques that stand as a testament to this golden age of Mali’s history.