It is difficult to say definitively which factor motivated King Leopold II of Belgium more, racial prejudice or financial greed. Both likely played a role in his actions and attitudes towards colonization and resource extraction in the Congo Free State during the late 19th century.

Leopold was known to be driven by a sense of ambition, originating from both his upbringing as well as his personal desire for power. His goal was to build an empire that would make him and Belgium wealthier and more powerful on the world stage. To this end, he sought out new territories to colonize and resources to exploit; it is likely that financial gain was one of the primary motivations behind these efforts.