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The incredible story of America's first female millionaire

The remarkable story of Madam CJ Walker
Born into jeopardy
The Great Migration
St. Louis
Opportunity knocks
To Denver with a dollar
The dream
The Walker system
The Black dollar
A steep learning curve
Smart hiring
The move to Indianapolis
Business booms
Stateside and beyond
A move to New York
Villa Lewaro
Political activism
Death and legacy
A place in history
1 of 19
Amanda Matlovich/Netflix/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy Stock Photo

The remarkable story of Madam CJ Walker

An old saying goes: ‘If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade’. But if life gives you racial oppression, grinding poverty, gender discrimination – and hair loss – then what to do? 

Madam CJ Walker knew exactly what. In doing so, she became not only America's first female Black millionaire but its first self-made female millionaire of any race, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Discover the extraordinary story of how a girl born on a 19th-century cotton plantation built a trailblazing hair-care empire and ended up one of New York’s most influential society figures. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars.

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Michael Gallagher

13 March 2025

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