Check Out Africa’s Billionaire Club
South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria have emerged as the dominant countries on the continent’s wealth ladder, according to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires Index.
Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, remains Africa’s wealthiest with a fortune of $24.4bn, driven largely by his cement and sugar businesses.
He is trailed by fellow industrialist, Abdulsamad Rabiu, founder of BUA Group, whose net worth stands at $7.2bn.
Telecom and oil magnate, Mike Adenuga, follows with $6.3bn, while energy investor, Femi Otedola, rounds off Nigeria’s list with $1.5bn.
In South Africa, luxury goods tycoon, Johann Rupert, tops the chart at $13.2bn, followed by former diamond boss, Nicky Oppenheimer, with $10.4bn.
Others include Koos Bekker with $3.8bn, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe with $3.4bn, banker, Michiel le Roux with $2.7bn, Jannie Mouton and family with $1.9bn, and retail investor, Christoffel Wiese with $1.7bn.
Egypt’s wealthy cohort is headlined by Nassef Sawiris ($8.8bn) and Naguib Sawiris ($5.0bn).
The Mansour brothers; Mohamed ($3.4bn), Youssef ($1.4bn), and Yasseen ($1.2bn), complete the country’s strong showing.
Beyond the three dominant nations, Eswatini’s Nathan Kirsh holds a net worth of $8.0bn.
Morocco contributes three names; Othman Benjelloun & family ($2.0bn), Aziz Akhannouch ($1.6bn), and Anas Sefrioui & family ($1.6bn).
Tanzania’s Mohammed Dewji sits at $2.2bn, while Zimbabwe’s Strive Masiyiwa has $1.3bn.
Breakdown by country (as of Saturday, August 23, 2025):
* South Africa – Seven billionaires
* Egypt – Five billionaires
* Nigeria – Four billionaires
* Morocco – Three billionaires
* Eswatini – One billionaire
* Tanzania – One billionaire
* Zimbabwe – 1
The rankings underscore how wealth on the continent remains concentrated in a few countries, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt dominating the billionaire landscape.