Nicky Oppenheimer is the richest man in South Africa. Nicholas F. Oppenheimer is a 75-year-old South African billionaire businessman. His net worth is a whopping 7.8 billion US dollars. Nicky was formerly the chairman of De Beers diamond mining company and of its subsidiary, the Diamond Trading Company, and former deputy chairman of Anglo American. Below is a list of richest people in South Africa.
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Richest Man in South Africa
Data from Forbes ranking of billionaires shows that South Africa’s richest people continue to grow their wealth. Nicky Oppenheimer, Johann Rupert and Michiel le Roux all saw their wealth grow. Koos Bekker and Patrice Motsepe also saw moderate gains. Below is a list of top 5 richest man in South Africa.
1. Nicky Oppenheimer
According to Forbes, the richest man in South Africa is Nicky Oppenheimer. He has a net worth of 7.8 billion US dollars. Oppenheimer, heir to his family’s fortune, sold his 40% stake in diamond firm DeBeers to mining group Anglo American for $5.1 billion in cash in 2012.
In 2014, Oppenheimer started Fireblade Aviation in Johannesburg, which operates chartered flights with its fleet of 3 planes and 2 helicopters.
He owns at least 720 square miles of conservation land across South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
2. Johann Rupert
The second richest man in South Africa is Johann Rupert. He has a net worth of 6.9 billion US dollars. Johann Rupert is chairman of Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont.
Johann owns a 7% stake in diversified investment firm Remgro, which he chairs, as well as 25% of Reinet, an investment holding co. based in Luxembourg.
3. Koos Bekker
Koos Bekker is South Africa’s third richest man. Koos Bekker has a net worth of 2.8 billion US dollars. Koos Bekker is revered for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor & cable TV powerhouse.
Bekker, who retired as the CEO of Naspers in March 2014, returned as chairman in April 2015.
4. Patrice Motsepe
According to Forbes, Patrice Motsepe is the fourth richest man in South Africa and the richest black man in South Africa. Patrice Motsepe has a net worth of 2.9 US billion dollars.
Patrice Motsepe, the founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, became a billionaire in 2008 – the first black African on the Forbes list.
In 2016, he launched a new private equity firm, African Rainbow Capital, focused on investing in Africa. Motsepe also has a stake in Sanlam, a listed financial services firm, and is the president and owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.
In 1994, he became the first black partner at law firm Bowman Gilfillan in Johannesburg, and then started a contracting business doing mine scut work.
In 1997, he bought low-producing gold mine shafts and later turned them profitable.
5. Allan Gray
Allan WB Gray is South Africa’s fifth richest man. He has accumulated a net worth of 1.8 US billion dollars.
Money manager, philanthropist and former billionaire Allan Gray died on November 10, 2019.
He founded his eponymous Cape Town-based investment management firm Allan Gray Limited in 1973.
For a list of Africa’s Billionaires, click here.
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