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When you think of the richest people in the world, names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Gautam Adani might come to mind.
Of course, these are based on the latest net worth figures and may fluctuate at any time.
Going back even further, more famous personalities also lost their fortunes, including American businessman John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, and the Romanovs of the Russian Empire.
But really, back in time, the richest man of all time (inflation considerations) defeated not only today’s tech billionaires and industrial-age shipping magnates, but the world’s greatest ruler, Augustus Caesar. What if ($6 trillion), William the Conqueror ($5 billion), Akbar I (unfathomable), according to the Times of India?
According to historians, the richest person ever was a 14th-century West African ruler named Mantha Musa, whose wealth was simply “indescribable” and “incomprehensible,” according to the BBC. .
So who exactly was he? Why have we never heard of him?
Mansa Musa was the Sultan of the Mali Empire
In Mandinka, “mansa” means sultan or emperor. Musa Keita is recorded to have been born around 1280 AD during the Keita dynasty.
Born into a family of rulers, he came to power in 1312 when his younger brother Mansa Abu Bakr abdicated the throne and went on an extravagant expedition at sea. According to historian Shibab al-Umari, Abu Bakr has always been fascinated by the Atlantic, reportedly leading a fleet of about 2,000 ships carrying thousands of men, women and slaves. but he never came back.
Mansa Musa became the ninth Sultan of the West African Kingdom and was already considered very wealthy when he took the throne.
His kingdom was rich in salt, gold and land
According to the British Museum, historians estimate that the Mali Empire was the world’s largest gold producer at the time, owning more than half of the world’s total supply.
After Musa ascended the throne, the kingdom continued to expand tremendously thanks to his efforts to expand trade in the region. His wealth continued to soar through the mining of sizable salt and gold deposits, as well as the ivory trade, as his Geographic states.
But salt and gold weren’t the only things that contributed to Musa’s wealth. annexed the cities of He is reported to have never lost a battle, and in many cases, due to his high quality of life, willing territories joined the Mali Empire.
he made the most extravagant pilgrimage ever
As a devout Muslim, Musa began his voyage to Mecca in 1324-1325, according to Magnates Media.
Musa had a vision to make his name known to the world. This his 6,500 km desert pilgrimage was the perfect opportunity to do just that. The BBC reported that the king left Mali with about 60,000 men and women, ranging from officials to camel drivers to slaves.
Many of these travelers, including slaves, were reportedly adorned from head to toe in Persian silk and gold brocade.
How else did he splash his gold?
The journey took Musa and his companions through the Sahara Desert and Egypt to Cairo, where the emperor generously sprinkled his cash, or in this case, gold, at the capital. , destabilizing the local economy and causing massive inflation for the decade after he left.
Legacy of Mansamsa…
After returning home, Musa made it his mission to revitalize the kingdom’s cities. His reputation continued to thrive, thanks to his architectural development in the area. He collaborated with Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad and the Andalusian poet and architect Abu es Haq es Saheri, and paid them up to 200 kg of gold for their efforts.
According to the BBC, he also built schools, libraries and mosques, helping Timbuktu become a center of culture and education.
Musa died in 1337 at the age of 57 and was succeeded by his sons, but the empire eventually collapsed.
So how rich was he really?
Mantha’s current net worth is estimated at between $400 billion and $500 billion, but it can be difficult to fairly calculate her fortune based on gold, salt and land. However, many historians agree that his wealth was “more abundant than anyone can explain.”
Nevertheless, Mansa Musa gained not only his gold mountains, but by his generosity and devotion to his Islamic faith, promoting education, and funding the greatest cultural developments of his empire. will also be remembered.
Note: This story was originally published on SCMP and has been republished on this website.
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