Mansa Musa, the West African ruler, used to be the richest person on the planet.
These days, Bernard Arnaut, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are vying for the top spot. But according to USA Today, the ninth sultan of the Keita dynasty is still the richest person to have ever lived.
Musa, who rose to power in 1312 AD, was born around 1280 AD into a lineage of kings.
Experts characterize his riches as incomprehensible or incalculable due to its extreme magnitude. His estimated net worth is $400 billion in today’s currency.
Nearly half of the gold in the ancient world belonged to Musa and his empire, according to the BBC. He is recognized for having supported and fostered the arts, architecture, education, and literature. He constructed a number of mosques, libraries, and schools.
Musa worked with Islamic experts, rewarding them with up to 200 kg of gold, to revitalize the cities within his empire and advance architecture in the area.
When he passed away in 1337 at the age of 57, his sons took over. His dominion finally crumbled.
According to History.com, between 1324 and 1325 AD, Musa undertook the “most extravagant pilgrimage in human history” to Makkah. His caravan held 100 camels bearing sacks of pure gold, and its 60,000 men and women were completely clothed in Persian silk and gold brocade.
