Kanku Musa was the ninth mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Musa was known for his wealth and generosity. He has been the subject of popular claims that he is the richest person in history, but the extent of his actual wealth is uncertain (although it has been estimated at around $400 billion in today’s dollars). Musa ruled an immense territory: between the Atlantic Ocean and modern-day Niger, an empire without a capital, an empire centered on trade in gold, slaves, salt, horses, camels, and textiles. Between 1324 and 1326, he undertook a costly pilgrimage to Mecca, a 4,300-kilometer journey, with an entourage of 15,000 people and 15 tons of gold.
