At the dawn of 2023, Forbes unveiled the African elite, where 19 billionaires flaunt their collective worth of $81.8 billion. Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s wealth czar, remains the undisputed champion for the 12th consecutive year, flaunting a net worth more bloated than a post-Christmas Day belly – $10.1 billion to be exact. His empire in cement and sugar is so colossal; even Willy Wonka would be jealous.
Then there’s Johann Rupert, South Africa’s luxury magnate with $10.7 billion. This guy probably brushes his teeth with gold flakes. Not to be outdone, South Africa takes the lead in the billionaire Olympics with five contenders, leaving the rest of the continent playing catch-up like it’s a game of Monopoly.
Johann Rupert
But let’s not forget the real heroes here – the 11 richest Africans shaping the continent’s financial landscape. These folks are like the Avengers of African wealth, only with more zeros in their bank accounts. If their fortunes were a roller coaster, it’d be the kind that only goes up, defying gravity and common sense.
Take Aliko Dangote, for instance, who started by selling sweets, proving that sometimes all it takes to be a billionaire is a sweet tooth and a savvy business mind. Meanwhile, Johann Rupert is probably sipping champagne on a yacht in the shape of a Cartier watch.
And then there’s Nicky Oppenheimer, who casually sold his 40% stake in a diamond empire for a mere $5.1 billion. Must be nice to have a family heirloom that’s shinier than a Kardashian’s jewelry collection.
Nicky Oppenheimer
Nassef Sawiris, with a net worth of $6.9 billion, is sitting pretty with a 6% stake in Adidas. If his shoe collection isn’t envy-inducing, I don’t know what is. Abdulsamad Rabiu, on the other hand, merged his cement empire in a move that probably made monopoly enthusiasts nod in approval.
But it’s not just about the money; it’s about the legacy. Issad Rebrab, at 79, named his son CEO of Cevital, proving that even billionaires play the long game. Mohamed Mansour oversees a family conglomerate with 60,000 employees, making him the ultimate boss of bosses.
And let’s not forget Naguib Sawiris, who made his fortune in telecom, probably by sending the world’s most expensive text message.
Mike Adenuga, the telecom and oil tycoon, made his first million selling lace and soft drinks. Who knew lace and fizz could be the keys to billions?
Koos Bekker, the e-commerce wizard of Cape Town, transformed a newspaper publisher into a cable TV powerhouse. His estate is so vast; it’s like he bought the entire board game of Monopoly and decided to live on it.
Last but not least, Patrice Motsepe, the mining tycoon, became the first black African on Forbes’ list, proving that breaking barriers is just another day in the life of a billionaire. He’s not just a president in business; he’s also the president of Mamelodi Sundowns, making him the real MVP of the football field and the boardroom.
Patrice Motsepe
So, here’s to the unsung heroes of African wealth, whose net worths are higher than our student loans and dreams of winning the lottery combined.
May their fortunes continue to rise like a helium balloon on a mission to touch the sky.
(By Eve Waruingi)