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This graphic visualizes some of the richest known pirates in history, based on a 2008 article from Forbes. We adjusted the original reported figures (which were in 2008 dollars) for inflation (as of March 2024).

Due to the nature of this topic, all figures should be interpreted as estimates.

Who had the most booty?

Samuel Bellamy (known as Black Sam) is widely regarded as the wealthiest pirate in recorded history. Born in 1689, Bellamy originally sailed for the British Royal Navy before becoming a pirate.

Bellamy had a brief but impactful piracy career, during which he captured 50+ ships in the span of one year. He died in 1717 when his flagship, the Whydah, sank in a storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

In 1982, a discovery of the wreck revealed large quantities of indigo, ivory, gold, and currency.