Johann Rupert: The wealth of SA’s richest man vs the rest of Africa

The start of January gives us a chance to reassess our finances, as the long march to our next payday drags on. One person who won’t be sweating over his bank balance is Johann Rupert. The investment tycoon officially become South Africa’s richest man at the start of this year, usurping Nicky Oppenheimer at the top of the pile.

Johann Rupert: Net worth and how he made his money

Rupert is perhaps South Africa’s best-known billionaire. In the past 12 months, he’s made a string of public appearances and even ended up in a spat with the EFF leadership – which culminated in him considering a move abroad. However, JR still remains in Mzansi, and his vast fortune of $7.38 billion (R103 billion) makes him the 238th-richest person in the world.

The mega-bucks earner is part of a highly-successful investment vehicle based in Stellenbosch. His wealth has been accumulating steadily during his time with Remgro, and he’s also the founder of a luxury watch-making company. Furthermore, Johann Rupert has used his money to buy title deeds for hundreds of residents in the Western Cape.

Who is the richest person in Africa? It’s not Johann Rupert…

So, he’s in the world’s top 250 money-makers. But is that enough to put him on top of the continental list? The answer to that is no. Rupert is “only” the second-richest person in South Africa, and his net-worth is dwarfed by that of Aliko Dangote – a Nigerian businesman whose stock has skyrocketed in the past year.

As his Bloomberg profile reports, He controls Dangote Industries. The Lagos-based company owns sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest cement producer, Dangote Cement, which had revenue of $2.5 billion in 2018. It also has interests in sugar, salt, flour, fertilizer and packaged food.

• In the past 12 months, Aliko Dangote has added more than $4 billion to his personal fortune.
• His total net worth stands at $14.8 billion (R206 billion) – more than double what Johann Rupert has raked-in.
• Dangote is officially one of the 100 richest people on the planet – he’s at #96 on Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.

Johann Rupert vs Africa’s billionaires

Five other Africans feature in the recently-released top 500. As well as Dangote and Rupert, we have representatives from Nigeria and Egypt on the ultra-elite list:

Nicky Oppenheimer, South Africa

Net worth: $7.35 billion

Global wealth ranking: #239 (one place below Johann Rupert)

African wealth ranking: #3

Source of his fortune: Oppenheimer sold his family’s 40% stake in De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond producer, to mining company Anglo American in 2012 for $5.2 billion in cash. He maintains private equity investments in Africa, Asia, the U.S. and Europe

Nassef Sariwis, Egypt

Net worth: $6.83 billion

Global wealth ranking: #268

African wealth ranking: #4

Source of his fortune: Egypt’s richest person owns 30% of OCI, a Netherlands-based contractor which was formed out of a demerger from his family’s original business, Orascom Construction. He has has a 6% stake in Adidas.

Natie Kirsch, South Africa

Net worth: $6.1 billion

Global wealth ranking: #312

African wealth ranking: #5

Source of his fortune: South Africa’s third-richest man, behind Johann Rupert and Nicky Oppenheimer. Kirsh controls Kirsh Group, a closely held conglomerate with a 75% in food supply business Jetro Holdings. Has cash and carry stores in over 30 US states, too.

Naguib Sawiris, Egypt

Net worth: $5.19 billion

Global wealth ranking: #414

African wealth ranking: #6

Source of his fortune: He’s the chairman of Orascom Media, and heads the Weather Investment Company.

Mike Adenuga, Nigeria

Net worth: $4.36 billion

Global wealth ranking: #499

African wealth ranking: #7

Source of his fortune: Owner of telecom operator Globacom. Also invested in Conoil and the Equitorial Trust Bank.