Maya Angelou – $10 Million

The late author Maya Angelou had an estimated $10-million fortune. The writer, who died in May 2014, may be best known for her work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which remains required material for high school students. The celebrated personality was given prestigious recognitions, including the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

No less than TV mogul Oprah Winfrey idolizes Angelou, who was friends with activists Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. In January 2021, toy brand Mattel paid tribute to the illustrious author by releasing a Barbie doll in her likeness.