South Africa is home to some of the wealthiest individuals in Africa, with fortunes ranging from mining and media to retail and technology. Here is a list of the top ten richest people in South Africa, with a special emphasis on their net worth and primary sources of wealth.
1. Elon Musk – $443 Billion
Elon Musk, originally from Pretoria, South Africa, is the founder and CEO of multiple high-profile technology companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. His net worth of approximately $443 billion makes him not only the richest South African but also one of the richest individuals globally.
2. Nicky Oppenheimer – $8.7 Billion
Nicky Oppenheimer, formerly the chairman of De Beers diamond mining company and a significant shareholder in Anglo-American, has a net worth estimated at $8.7 billion. His wealth comes from his 40 years in the diamond industry and various other investments.
3. Johann Rupert – $7.1 Billion
Johann Rupert is the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury goods company Compagnie Financiere Richemont and the South Africa-based company Remgro. With a net worth of $7.1 billion, he is one of Africa’s most significant figures in luxury fashion and finance.
4. Patrice Motsepe – $3.1 Billion
Patrice Motsepe is the founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a leading mining company in South Africa. His net worth of $3.1 billion comes from his operations in ferrous metals, base metals, and gold, along with his stakes in Sanlam, and African Rainbow Capital, a private equity firm focusing on investments in Africa.
5. Koos Bekker – $2.8 Billion
Koos Bekker is renowned for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor & cable TV powerhouse, making him a billionaire. His wealth of $2.8 billion also includes profits from the rise in share value of Tencent, in which Naspers holds a substantial stake.
6. Michiel le Roux – $1.7 Billion
Michiel le Roux is the founder and former CEO of Capitec Bank, which has grown into one of the largest retail banks in South Africa. His net worth of $1.7 billion reflects the success of his vision to make banking accessible and affordable to the masses.
7. Christo Wiese – $1.2 Billion
Christo Wiese is a South African businessman whose wealth peaked at much higher values before he was hit by the Steinhoff International scandal. He still holds significant assets in retail operations through Shoprite Holdings, with a current net worth of $1.2 billion.
8. Stephen Saad – $1.1 Billion
Stephen Saad is the founder of Aspen Pharmacare, Africa’s largest pharmaceuticals company. The company’s growth in providing generic medicines worldwide has led to his net worth of $1.1 billion.
9. Desmond Sacco – $1.0 Billion
Desmond Sacco, Chairman and Managing Director of Assore Group, has a net worth of $1.0 billion. His wealth stems from the mining of iron, manganese, and chrome ores, along with other minerals.
10. Ivan Glasenberg – $950 Million
Ivan Glasenberg is the CEO of Glencore, one of the world’s largest commodity trading and mining companies. His net worth of $950 million is closely tied to the fortunes of the raw materials market worldwide.
This list of the wealthiest individuals in South Africa showcases a diversity of industries from technology and mining to fashion and finance, reflecting the dynamic economic landscape of the country.
