World's richest man ever existed on Earth was much wealthier than Mukesh Ambani, Adani, Musk, Ratan Tata, Gates combines; his name was…, travelled Mecca with gold worth…
Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire between the years 1312 and 1337 CE. Under his reign, the Mali Empire attained perhaps its greatest fortune, becoming one of the wealthiest times and places in Africa. His wealth came in large part from the abundant gold and salt mines Mali possessed at this time. Mali was one of the world's primary sources gold at the time. As of that time, Mansa Musa also derived riches through the trade of ivory, slaves and any other valuable item he could sell; he built his empire to be one of the powers of Medieval world economy.'
Mansa Musa's enormous wealth was not the only reason for his legendary status—it was how he expressed that wealth that excited the world. In 1324, he undertook a famous pilgrimage to Mecca that would become a significant historical moment. From the accounts of him in the pamphlets that came to be written, Mansa Musa embarked on his pilgrimage with thousands of people of his royal entourage—people such as servants, soldiers, and in addition he brought with him dozens of camels, each laden with gold of about 136 kg. As he passed through cities like Cairo, he gave away enough gold as a donation to cause inflation in the cities and disrupted the economy for years. Mansa Musa's fame quickly spread, especially to the courts of kingdoms in Europe and Asia. Kings and emperors all over the world were eager to be in his good graces and wanted have an opportunity to receive a share of his wealth and massive generosity. Indeed, even after he died in 1337, stories would echo their way across continents of Mansa Musa, as the one of the richest men in the world.
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Economic Times
6 days ago
- Economic Times
How the richest man in history built his Rs 11,468,980,000,000 fortune
Synopsis Mansa Musa, the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, amassed immense wealth through gold and salt resources, controlling a vast territory. His pilgrimage to Mecca caused economic disruption in Egypt due to his lavish gold spending. Musa transformed Timbuktu into a renowned center of learning, attracting scholars and fostering architectural advancements before the empire's eventual decline after his death. Image generated using AI Mansa Musa, the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, is often described as the richest person who has ever lived. As reported in TOI, his fortune has been estimated at around $131 billion (£99 billion) in modern terms, making him wealthier than any billionaire alive Musa was born in 1280 into a family of rulers. His brother, Mansa Abu-Bakr, ruled until 1312. As quoted in TOI, Abu-Bakr had a deep interest in the Atlantic Ocean and set off on an expedition with 2,000 ships carrying thousands of men, women, and slaves. They never returned, and their fate remains a mystery. Some historians, such as Ivan Van Sertima, have suggested that they may have reached South America, though there is no firm evidence. After Abu-Bakr vanished, Mansa Musa inherited the throne. As reported in TOI, he expanded the empire to include 24 cities, including Timbuktu, stretching over 2,000 miles and covering parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. As reported in TOI, the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa controlled huge gold and salt resources. It is said the empire produced nearly half of all the gold in the Old World. Trade routes across West Africa brought even more wealth. In today's currency, US-based estimates place his fortune between $400 billion and $500 1324, Mansa Musa made his famous pilgrimage to Mecca, passing through Cairo, Egypt with a massive caravan. As reported in TOI, his entourage included tens of thousands of people and hundreds of camels carrying gold. He stayed in Cairo for three months, giving away so much gold that its value dropped sharply, triggering a ten-year economic downturn in Egypt and across the Middle East. According to US-based studies quoted in TOI, the sudden fall in gold prices caused an estimated $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) in losses due to gold devaluation. Some accounts say Mansa Musa later borrowed gold back at high interest to try and fix the problem. Others claim his generosity left him short of gold. Lucy Duran, from the School of African and Oriental Studies in London, has noted, as quoted in TOI, that Mali's own griots (oral historians) criticised him for damaging the empire's standing. During his reign, Mansa Musa spent heavily on the arts and education. As reported in TOI, he once paid a poet 200 kilograms of gold (worth $8.2 million today). He built schools, libraries, and mosques, turning Timbuktu into a world-famous learning centre. Scholars came from across the Islamic world, including Mecca, Medina, and Andalusia. On his return from pilgrimage, Mansa Musa brought with him many Islamic scholars, including descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, and the Andalusian poet-architect Abu Es Haq es Saheli. Abu Es Haq designed the Djinguereber Mosque, still a landmark in Timbuktu today. Sankore University in Timbuktu flourished, attracting students from far and wide. As reported in TOI, centuries later the city was seen in Europe as a legendary 'lost city of gold', attracting explorers and fortune hunters. Mansa Musa died in 1337 at the age of 57. As reported in TOI, his sons could not keep the empire united. Smaller states broke away, and the arrival of Europeans in West Africa sped up its Musa's generosity had made Mali famous worldwide. A 1375 Catalan Atlas map shows an African king, believed to be Mansa Musa, sitting on a golden throne in Timbuktu, holding a piece of gold. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
How the richest man in history built his Rs 11,468,980,000,000 fortune
Mansa Musa , the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire , is often described as the richest person who has ever lived. As reported in TOI, his fortune has been estimated at around $131 billion (£99 billion) in modern terms, making him wealthier than any billionaire alive today. Mansa Musa was born in 1280 into a family of rulers. His brother, Mansa Abu-Bakr, ruled until 1312. As quoted in TOI, Abu-Bakr had a deep interest in the Atlantic Ocean and set off on an expedition with 2,000 ships carrying thousands of men, women, and slaves. They never returned, and their fate remains a mystery. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Some historians, such as Ivan Van Sertima, have suggested that they may have reached South America, though there is no firm evidence. After Abu-Bakr vanished, Mansa Musa inherited the throne. As reported in TOI, he expanded the empire to include 24 cities, including Timbuktu , stretching over 2,000 miles and covering parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso , Niger, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. Mansa Musa's Golden Empire As reported in TOI, the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa controlled huge gold and salt resources. It is said the empire produced nearly half of all the gold in the Old World. Trade routes across West Africa brought even more wealth. In today's currency, US-based estimates place his fortune between $400 billion and $500 billion. The Cairo Visit That Changed an Economy In 1324, Mansa Musa made his famous pilgrimage to Mecca , passing through Cairo, Egypt with a massive caravan. As reported in TOI, his entourage included tens of thousands of people and hundreds of camels carrying gold. He stayed in Cairo for three months, giving away so much gold that its value dropped sharply, triggering a ten-year economic downturn in Egypt and across the Middle East. Live Events According to US-based studies quoted in TOI, the sudden fall in gold prices caused an estimated $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) in losses due to gold devaluation. Some accounts say Mansa Musa later borrowed gold back at high interest to try and fix the problem. Others claim his generosity left him short of gold. Lucy Duran, from the School of African and Oriental Studies in London, has noted, as quoted in TOI, that Mali's own griots (oral historians) criticised him for damaging the empire's standing. Timbuktu: A World Centre of Learning During his reign, Mansa Musa spent heavily on the arts and education. As reported in TOI, he once paid a poet 200 kilograms of gold (worth $8.2 million today). He built schools, libraries, and mosques, turning Timbuktu into a world-famous learning centre. Scholars came from across the Islamic world, including Mecca, Medina, and Andalusia. On his return from pilgrimage, Mansa Musa brought with him many Islamic scholars, including descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, and the Andalusian poet-architect Abu Es Haq es Saheli. Abu Es Haq designed the Djinguereber Mosque , still a landmark in Timbuktu today. Sankore University in Timbuktu flourished, attracting students from far and wide. As reported in TOI, centuries later the city was seen in Europe as a legendary 'lost city of gold', attracting explorers and fortune hunters. The Empire's Decline Mansa Musa died in 1337 at the age of 57. As reported in TOI, his sons could not keep the empire united. Smaller states broke away, and the arrival of Europeans in West Africa sped up its collapse. Mansa Musa's generosity had made Mali famous worldwide. A 1375 Catalan Atlas map shows an African king, believed to be Mansa Musa, sitting on a golden throne in Timbuktu, holding a piece of gold. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
10 shops encroaching on Srirangam temple land removed
Trichy: Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department has evicted 10 shops that were encroaching and misusing the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple land for decades. HR&CE officials on Tuesday retrieved 720sqft of land near the temple's northern entrance gopuram, with the help of police. Officials said that 10 shops selling various products including pooja articles had encroached between North Uthira street and North Chithirai street. While people arriving in public transport enter the temple through Renga Renga gopuram, devotees in personal vehicles opt for the northern entrance due to the availability of parking space. However, the shops had been choking free movement of vehicles, causing hindrance to cars and tourist vehicles. "We have sent notices even before 2020, but the shopkeepers approached Madras high court alleging that the land belongs to the local body. However, in a recent directive, the court has ruled in favour of the HR&CE department, so we evicted the encroachments," an official source said. Encroachments are at least two decades old, the official added. The temple management has planned to fence the retrieved property to prevent encroachments in future. "There are similar encroachments around the temple. We would retrieve the land gradually," the official added.
