1. Mansa Musa: The Gold King of Mali
In the 14th century, Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire and is often regarded as the richest person in recorded history. His legendary pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 stunned the world: he distributed gold so lavishly that he boosted—and sometimes destabilized—local economies along his route. Musa’s immense fortune funded the creation of centers of learning like Timbuktu, helping turn Mali into a beacon of culture and knowledge.
