Nigerian businessman, Aliko Dangote is currently the richest man in Africa. For the past 11 years, the Kano-born has topped Forbes’ list of richest people in Africa. Dangote has garnered a net worth of about $12.5 billion from his cement and sugar manufacturing business. Other richest people in Africa include Johann Rupert & family, Nicky Oppenheimer & family, Nassef Sawiris, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Mike Adenuga of Nigeria.
The wealth of these men is measured by their net worth. However, while some grow richer by the day, there are others that unfortunately lose their spots due to quite a number of economic factors.
Meet the Richest Man in Africa
Aliko Dangote
- Full name: Aliko Dangote
- Date of birth: 10 April 1957
- Age: 67 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Place of birth: Kano Nigeria
- Parents: Mariya Sanusi Dantata(mother), Mohammed Dangote(father)
- Siblings: Sani Dangote
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Occupation: Industrialist
- Marital Status: Divorced(2)
- Spouse: Zainab (1st wife), Mariya Muhammad Rufai (2nd wife)
- Children: 4 (Halima, Mariya, Fatimaand Abdulrahman Fasasi)
- Net worth: $12.5 billion
- Source of wealth: Cement, sugar
- Industry: Manufacturing
- Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, Al-Azhar University
Dangote is the founder and chairperson of Africa’s largest cement-producing company, Dangote Cement. He first became a billionaire in 2007 and in 2013, he was named the 30th richest person in the world and also the wealthiest person in Africa.
The business magnate owns 85% of publicly-traded Dangote Cement. His company operates in over 11 countries across Africa and the company has the capacity to produce about 48.6 million metric tons annually. Aside from his cement company, Dangote started operating a fertilizer plant in Nigeria in 2021.
Aliko Dangote also has a refinery that has been under construction since 2016. Once completed, the refinery would be one of the world’s largest oil refineries.
The Kano-born billionaire is from a business-oriented family. He is the great-grandson of Alhassan Dantata, who was once the richest man in West Africa. Dangote’s grandfather, Sanusi Dantata was a successful trader of rice and oats in Kano.
Besides his family’s wealth, Aliko Dangote reportedly has a net worth of about $12.5 billion as of October 2022.
Here are 9 Others that are on the List
1. Johann Rupert & Family
- Full name: Johann Peter Rupert
- Date of birth: 1 June 1950
- Age: 74 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Place of birth: Stellenbosch, Cape Province, South Africa
- Parents: Anton (father), Huberte Rupert (mother)
- Siblings: Antonij, Hanneli
- Nationality: South African
- Occupation: Industrialist
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Gaynor Rupert
- Children: 3
- Net worth: $7.2 billion
- Source of wealth: Luxury goods
- Education: University of Stellenbosch
Johann Rupert is the chairman of Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont. The company was formed in 1998 and it is best known for controlling the world’s largest luxury watchmaker, Cie Financiere Richemont.
The billionaire owns 7% of diversified investment firm Remgro, a south-African based investment with stakes in more than 30 companies. The Rupert family’s family business is run by Johann Peter Rupert.
Rupert and his family made the Forbes list in 2021 as the second richest in South Africa. At the moment, the South African billionaire and his family have a net worth of about $7.2 billion. In 2005, the Rupert family was listed as 272nd on the list of the 500 wealthiest worldwide with a net worth of $2.3 billion. With a net worth of over $5 billion, the family ranked the 375th on Forbes Billionaires 2020 list.
With a net worth of about $7.2 billion, Johann Rupert & family are No. 2 on the Forbes list of richest African as of 2022.
2. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family
- Full name: Nicky F. Oppenheimer
- Date of birth: 8 June 1945
- Age: 79 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Place of birth: South Africa
- Parents: Harry Oppenheimer (father), Bridget McCall (mother)
- Nationality: South African
- Occupation: Industrialist
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Orcillia Lasch
- Children: 3 (including Jonathan Oppenheimer
- Net worth: $8.4 billion
- Source of wealth: diamonds
- Education: Bachelor of Arts/Science, Oxford U Christ Church: Master of Arts
South African billionaire businessman, Nicky Oppenheimer is the third richest man in Africa. He is the third generation of his family to run DeBeers before the company went private in 2001.
The Oppenheimer family used to control the world’s diamond trade for more than 85 years until 2012. In 2014, Nicky started Fireblade Aviation in Johannesburg, and now, he owns at least 720 square miles of conservation land across South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
Aside from being a wealthy family, the Oppenheimer family has been involved in several philanthropic causes. They have helped in preserving the heritage and cultural importance of the southern African region.
3. Nassef Sawiris
- Full name: Nassef Onsi Sawiris
- Date of birth: 19 January 1962
- Age: 62 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Place of birth: Cairo Egypt
- Parents: Onsi Sawrisi
- Nationality: Egyptian
- Occupation: Industrialist
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Sherine
- Children: 4
- Net worth: $6.6 billion
- Source of wealth: Construction, investments
- Education: Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule
His 6% stake in Adidas is said to be his most valuable asset. Also, he acquired a 5% stake in New Yoke-listed firm Madison Square Garden Sports. The Egyptian also runs one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, OCI.
According to reports, Nassef Sawiris teamed up with Wes Edens to buy the Premier League’s Aston Villa Football Club. He is now the executive chairman of Aston Villa F.C.
Read Also: Richest State In Nigeria: 10 States By Their IGR and GDP
4. Abdul Samad Rabiu
- Full name: Abdul Samad Rabiu
- Date of birth: August 4 1960
- Age: 64 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Place of birth: Kano Nigeria
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Marital Status: Married
- Children: 4 (Isyaku, Junaid, Rukkayah Rania, and Khadijah)
- Net worth: $5.3 billion
- Source of wealth: Cement, sugar
- Education: Capital University
Nigerian businessman and philanthropist Abdul Samad Rabiu is the founder and chairman of BUA Group. He is also the chairman of the Nigerian Bank of Industry. His company produces revenue of about $2.5 billion.
After inheriting land from his father, who was also a successful businessman, Abdul Samad began his own business in 1988 importing iron, steel, and chemicals
In July 2020, the Nigerian businessman was placed in the global billionaire’s club as the No. 716th and in January 2022, he was listed as the second richest man in Nigeria, and with a net worth of $5.3 billion, he became the fifth-richest man in Africa in April 2022.
5. Mike Adenuga
- Full name: Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr
- Nickname: Mike Adenuga
- Date of birth: 29 April 1953
- Age: 71 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Place of birth: Ibadan Oyo state, Nigeria
- Parents: Michael Agbolade Adenuga Sr(father), Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga(mother)
- Nationality: Nigeria
- Occupation: Industrialist
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Titi Joyce Adenuga
- Children: 7( including Bella Disu)
- Net worth: $5.6 billion
- Source of wealth: telecom, oil, self-made
- Education: Master of Business Administration, Pace University
Mike Adenuga is the second richest man in Nigeria and was formerly the fourth richest man in Africa. His company Globacom is well-known in Ghana and Benin. In Nigeria, it is known as one of the largest telecom companies.
Aside from his telecom company, the father-of-seven owns stakes in the Equitorial Trust Bank. Apparently, the billionaire made his first million at the age of 26 in 1979 by selling lace and distributing soft drinks.
In 2007, the first African Telecoms Award named Mike Adenuga the African Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2019, he was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine.
The oil magnate operates 6 oil blocks in the Niger Delta and at the moment, he is regarded as the 6th richest man in Africa.
6. Issad Rebrab & Family
- Full name: Issad Rebrad
- Date of birth: May 27, 1944
- Age: 80 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Place of birth: Tizi Ouzou
- Nationality: Algerian
- Marital Status: Married
- Children: 5
- Net worth: $5.1 billion
- Source of wealth: Food, Self-made
Algerian billionaire businessman Issad Rebrab is the CEO of the largest private company called Cevital industrial group Algeria. The company produces steel, food, and electronics and is actively involved in agribusiness.
The Tizi Ouzou-born billionaire also owns one of the largest sugar refineries in the world. His company produces about 2 million tons annually. Some of his other investments include a German water purification company and also an Italian steel mill called Groupe Brandt.
Issad Rebrab was in jail for 8 months on charges of corruption. He was released on January 1, 2020. However, the millionaire has denied all the allegations against him.
7. Naguib Sawiris
- Full name: Naguib Sawiris
- Date of birth: June 15, 1954
- Age: 70 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Place of birth: Cairo, Egypt
- Nationality: Egypt
- Parents: Onsi Sawiris (father)
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Ghada Gamil Sawiris
- Children: 4
- Net worth: $3.4 billion
- Source of wealth: Food, Self-made
- Education: ETH Zurich
The former chairman of Orascom TMT Investments, Naguib Sawiris comes from the famous Sawiris family in Egypt. His brothers, Nassef and Samih are also billionaires. Naguib has a fortune in telecommunications. Reports say he sold Orascom Telecom in 2011 to a Russian telecom firm called VimpelCom.
He launched Gemini Global Development in 2016 and he owns a USD 2.5 billion global real estate portfolio. He also owns a luxury resort called Silversands on the Caribbean island of Grenada.
With a net worth of $3.4 billion, the Egyptian is the eighth richest man in Africa at the moment.
8. Patrice Motsepe
- Full name: Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe
- Date of birth: January 28, 1962
- Age: 62 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- Place of birth: Pretoria, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Precious Moloi
- Children: 3
- Net worth: $2.6 billion
- Source of wealth: Mining, Self-made
- Education: University of Swaziland
Besides being the serving president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe is the founder of African Rainbow Minerals and also the board member of the world’s 12th largest gold mining company.
The South African was first named the richest man in South Africa in 2012 after he topped the Sunday Times annual Rich List with about $1 billion.
Aside from having an interest in mining, he also has an interest in sports. The father-of-three is the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns FCC but his son Thlopie took over as chairman of the club after he became the president of CAF.
9. Koos Bekker
- Full name: Jacobus Petrus “Koos” Bekker
- Date of birth: 14 December 1952
- Age: 71 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Saggittarius
- Place of birth: Potchefstroom, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Marital Status: Married
- Children: 2
- Net worth: $2.2 billion
- Source of wealth: Media, Investments, Self-made
- Education: Master of business, Columbia Business School; LLB, University of Witwatersrand
Koos Bekker’s company Naspers operates in not less than 130 countries and it has been recognized on the London Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It has one of the largest market capitalizations. The billionaire’s company operates in Europe, Africa, China, and a few other countries.
In 2019 Forbes ranked him as the 1002nd wealthiest person in the world and the 3rd wealthiest South African in 2020. As of September 2022, he is the 10th richest person in Africa.
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