Mansa Musa, emperor of Mali in the 14th century, is often cited as the richest person in history.
Why it is true
Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire between 1312 and 1337. His wealth came from gold and salt. During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he distributed so much gold that he caused inflation in Egypt. He is often cited as the richest person in history.
Source: Britannica
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