There have been major declines for certain magnates, while others have experienced significant advances.
For context, Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s industrial giant, has seen a significant gain in fortune. Following the start-up of the Dangote Refinery in early 2024, his net worth increased to $23.9 billion by March 2025, up from $13.9 billion the previous year.
This increase reaffirmed his status as Africa’s richest individual.
In a similar vein, Johann Rupert, South Africa’s luxury goods entrepreneur, has also seen tremendous expansion.
His net worth increased to $14 billion as a result of Compagnie Financière Richemont’s good performance, which owns well-known brands like as Cartier and Montblanc.
While a focus on the net-worth growth of Africa’s richest individuals engenders entrepreneurial aspirations, it is also important to look at the net-worth decline of Africa’s richest individuals and what brought about the dip.
One key factor all year round has been the devaluation of local currencies, notably the Nigerian naira, which has significantly impacted the fortunes of the country’s billionaires.
Simply put, the net-worth fluctuations among African billionaires are not just a reflection of personal financial gain or loss; they serve as a mirror to the continent’s broader economic, political, and industrial conditions.
Additionally, fluctuations also underscore the importance of diversification. Billionaires whose wealth is spread across multiple sectors or countries tend to weather economic downturns more effectively.
Changes in billionaires’ net worth are more than simply news stories in Africa, where they can have a big impact on national economies. They are also signs of policy, investment, and economic activity.
With that said, here are the richest Africans currently as per data from Forbes.
Top 10 richest African billionaires mid-way into 2025
| Rank | Name | Net worth mid-2025 | Country | Global rank | Net worth at the start of 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Aliko Dangote |
$23.3 billion |
Nigeria |
88th |
$11.5 billion |
|
2. |
Johann Rupert & family |
$14.1 billion |
South Africa |
171st |
$11.1 billion |
|
3. |
Nicky Oppenheimer & family |
$10.4 billion |
South Africa |
271st |
$9.5 billion |
|
4. |
Nassef Sawiris |
$9.4 billion |
Egypt |
324th |
$7.7 billion |
|
5. |
Nathan Kirsh |
$7.7 billion |
Eswatini |
422nd |
$7.3 billion |
|
6. |
Mike Adenuga |
$6.2 billion |
Nigeria |
571st |
$6.8 billion |
|
7. |
Naguib Sawiris |
$5.0 billion |
Egypt |
749th |
$3.8 billion |
|
8. |
Abdulsamad Rabiu |
$4.9 billion |
Nigeria |
763rd |
$4.9 billion |
|
9. |
Koos Bekker |
$3.5 billion |
South Africa |
1081st |
$2.9 billion |
|
10. |
Patrice Motsepe |
$3.2 billion |
South Africa |
1190th |
$2.7 billion |
