True Story of an 11-Year-Old Girl Who Became the Richest Black Woman in the World

There’s been talks about making a movie next year to tell the true story of Sarah Rector’s amazing life.

05 Nov 2024, 12:34 by Phenix S Halley · The Root

Screenshot: Family Photo

During a time in which African Americans were freshly recovering from the physical and financial trauma of slavery, one lucky decision changed this poor Black girl’s life forever, earning her the title of the “richest Negro girl” in the country. In 2024, there’s been talks about making a movie to tell the true story of her life. The film, which is slated to be released next year will be called “Sarah’s Oil.”

“The land they gave to Sarah was so sandy and rocky, her father just despaired because nothing would grow on it,” she said to the Washington Post. Her father paid taxes on the land, despite not being able to profit off of it. But it wasn’t until he signed a lease with an oil company that the Rectors would truly hit the jackpot...literally.

When the oil company gained control of the allotment, they found oil — and loads of it. “She had one of the largest oil pools on her property ever, and so she went basically from rags to riches overnight,” Arnold said. Rector was just 11 years old when the oil was discovered in 1913, but then, she was quickly upgraded to elite status.

Screenshot: The Washington Post

“News of her wealth spread throughout the world, and she was getting marriage proposals from mostly white men. And she was just 11 years old,” said Arnold. It wasn’t all good news for Rector, however: With all eyes on her because of her family’s wealth, Rector became a target. Two years prior to the Rectors’ black gold discovery, a brother and sister— who likely knew Rector— were killed for their allotted land, according to KGOU.

A headline in The Washington Post wrote “Oil Made Pickaninny Rich.” The article even described Rector as “an orphan, crude, Black and uneducated, yet worth more than $4,000,000,” which couldn’t be further from the truth.

With racist media coverage from white publications, Rector faced threats, racism, sexism, and everything in between. One thing worked in her favor though: the Black press. As news of Rector’s wealth traveled across the globe, The Chicago Defender inspired Black activists to come to Rector’s rescue through their coverage of her story.

Historian and praised sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois even wrote to the Rector family’s local judge on June 6, 1914 in the girl’s defense, according to KGOU. Because of her age as minor, Rector hadn’t inherited any wealth yet. But once she did, her family say she was living lavish.

“She had chickens, cows, calves, and stuff like that,” said Rector’s niece, Deborah Brown. Rector owned Cadillac cars and did whatever else she wanted with her millions. In 1967, she died at age 65.

Much like when she was young, the media continues to misrepresent Rector even after her death. According to Rector’s family, even the Smithsonian has displayed pictures of Rector who aren’t really her.

True Story of an 11-Year-Old Girl Who Became the Richest Black Woman in the World

There’s been talks about making a movie next year to tell the true story of Sarah Rector’s amazing life.

Suggested Reading

Suggested Reading

Related Content

Related Content