The world, Africa included, may have been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic but the rich are still sailing through just fine.
According to Forbes, Africa’s first 18 richest people have an average net worth of $4.1 billion (KSh 446.5 billion).
Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote tops the list of the wealthiest Africans for the tenth year in a row. Egyptian Nassef Sawiris, who controls a 6% stake in sportswear, Adidas, emerged second, while Nicky Oppenheimer of South Africa was ranked third.
No Ghanaian, however, made it on the list.
The wealth of these billionaires are calculated using stock prices and currency exchange rates
Check the full list below:
- Aliko Dangote
The Nigerian billionaire business magnate is the wealthiest person in Africa, with an estimated net worth of $ 12.1 billion. His main source of income comes from cement and sugar sales.
Dangote’s wealth rose by $ 2 billion in 2020 after a 30% increase in the share price of his cement company.
- Nassef Sawiris
The Egyptian rakes in billions from construction and investments in diverse sectors. The 60-year-old is the youngest of Onsi Sawiris’ three sons.
As of May 2021, his net worth was estimated to be $9.2 billion, an increase from $ 8.5 billion in January.
In 2021, he was considered to be the richest Arab as well as the second richest African.
- Nicky Oppenheimer
With a net worth of $8.1 billion, Oppenheimer is the richest South African and third in the continent. He previously served as the chairman of De Beers diamond mining company and its Diamond Trading Company subsidiary.
In 2012, however, he sold his family’s 40% stake to mining giant AngloAmerican for $5 billion.
- Johann Rupert
The 71-year-old South African is among the richest men in Africa. His source of income is mainly luxury goods. He serves as the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury goods company Richemont and the South Africa-based company Remgro.
Rupert’s wealth is estimated at $7.2 billion.
- Mike Adenuga
The Nigerian billionaire owns Globacom, the West African country’s second-largest telecom operator, which has a presence in Ghana and Benin. His fortunes also originate from the multi-billion oil sector. His net worth is estimated at $6.2 billion.
- Abdul Samad Rabiu
Abdul Samad is a Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist.
His late father, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu, was one of Nigeria’s foremost industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s.
He earns money from cement and sugar sales. His net worth is estimated at $5.5 billion.
- Issad Rebrab
The Algerian billionaire businessman is the chief executive officer of the Cevital industrial group, the largest private company in Algeria, active in steel, food, agribusiness and electronics. His net worth is approximately $4.8 billion.
- Naguib Sawiris
Naguib is the elder brother of Nassef Sawiris. The 67-year-old is the chairman of Weather Investments’ parent company and chairman and CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding. As of April 2021, his net worth was valued at $3.5 billion.
- Patrice Motsepe
Motsepe is a South African mining billionaire businessman with a net worth of $3 billion. He is the founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, which deals in gold, ferrous metals, base metals, and platinum.
- Koos Bekker
Bekker’s investments in the media industry in South Africa has propelled him to the top 10 richest Africans. He is the chairman of the media group Naspers and has a net worth of $2.8 billion.
- Mohamed Mansour
The Egyptian is the chairman of Mansour Group, a $6 billion conglomerate that is the second-largest company in Egypt by revenue. The Mansour Group is the largest general motors dealer globally and the fifth-largest distributor of Caterpillar Inc. products globally. His wealth is valued at $2.5 billion.
- Aziz Akhanouch
The Moroccan businessman who currently heads the agriculture ministry has a net worth of $2 billion. The 60-year-old is the CEO of Akwa Group, a Moroccan conglomerate active in the oil and gas sectors.
- Mohammed Dewji
Dewji, 46, who hails from Tanzania, is ranked as the richest East African with a net worth of $1.6 billion. His sources of income are diversified. He owns MeTL Group, a commodities trading business founded by his father.
- Youssef Mansour
The Egyptian billionaire co-owns the Mansour Group. The father of five is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion.
- Othman Benjellon
The Moroccan banker billionaire is known for co-founding BMCE Bank and Bank of Africa. He serves as its chairman and chief executive officer.
In 2021, his net worth was estimated at $1.3 billion.
- Michiel Le Roux
The South African is the founder of Capitec Bank, ranked in 2017 as the second-largest retail bank in South Africa, based on the number of customers. Michiel’s wealth is valued at $1.2 billion.
- Strive Masiyiwa
Masiyiwa is a London-based Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of the international technology group Econet Global. He ties with Michiel with wealth valued at $1.2 billion.
- Yasseen Mansour
Yasseen is a member of the Mansour family, which owns the Mansour Group.
He is also the chairman of Palm Hills Developments, one of Egypt’s largest real estate developers. His net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion.