Emperor · 1280 – 1337
Mansa Musa
Little-Known Facts
- On his pilgrimage he reportedly gave away so much gold in Cairo that its value fell for years afterward.
- He appears on the 1375 Catalan Atlas holding a gold nugget, fixing Mali in European geography.
Myths & Misconceptions
Was Mansa Musa really the richest person ever?
His wealth was so vast it defies precise measurement; he is frequently cited as possibly the richest individual in history, though exact comparisons are impossible.