This man was richer than anyone alive today.
Researchers linked to Harvard University have used modern 3D modeling technology to create digital reconstructions of how Mansa Musa may have looked. With no verified portraits of the legendary Mali emperor in existence, the team relied on historical accounts, regional ancestry, skeletal references, and visual details from manuscripts of the period to build their models.
Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire in the 14th century and is widely regarded as the wealthiest person in recorded history. His famous pilgrimage to Mecca is said to have flooded cities with so much gold that local economies were disrupted for years.
These new 3D renderings are not claimed to be exact likenesses, but carefully researched visual interpretations. They offer a rare glimpse into a figure known mostly through legend and text, showing how technology can bridge the gap between the modern world and one of history’s most extraordinary lives.
