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South Africa's 7 billionaires are POORER this week
South Africa's 7 billionaires are POORER this week

The South African

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • The South African

South Africa's 7 billionaires are POORER this week

It's often said that making money is easy – once you already have some. For South Africa's wealthiest businessmen, that truth is backed by decades of compound interest, strategic investments, and in some cases, well-timed inheritances. The concept of compound interest is so powerful that it's been dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world.' And for those who know how to wield it – especially from an early starting point – the rewards are astronomical. As the saying goes, 'the rich get richer,' and in South Africa, a select group of men has taken that maxim to new heights. Their billions have been built across industries ranging from mining and banking to tech, retail, and media- and their wealth continues to grow, both locally and globally. If you're wondering how much we're talking about, let's just say: it's enough to make your calculator overheat. Here are South Africa's richest men – and how they made (and keep making) their fortunes. According to Forbes' real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $13.6 billion. The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.5 billion. They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton and Christo Wiese. South Africa's seven dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail. Last week, Rupert was the big 'loser' as his net worth fell by $900 million (R15.9 billion). Bekker and Motsepe both added $100 million (R1.77 billion) to their net worths. Cumulatively, South Africa's seven dollar billionaires are worth $37.3 billion (R661 billion). Meanwhile, in terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $413.2 billion. Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 21 July 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 190 Johann Rupert & family $14.5bn $13.6bn Luxury goods 279 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.5bn $10.5bn Diamonds 1 045 Koos Bekker $3.6bn $3.7bn Media, investments 1 148 Patrice Motsepe $3.3bn $3.4bn Mining 1 502 Michiel Le Roux $2.6bn $2.6bn Banking 2 045 Jannie Mouton & family $1.8bn $1.8bn Retail 2 179 Christo Wiese $1.7bn $1.7bn Financial services TOTAL $38bn $37.3bn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Rich continent, poor people
Rich continent, poor people

The Citizen

time11-07-2025

  • Business
  • The Citizen

Rich continent, poor people

With just four billionaires richer than half of Africa, inequality is a crisis rooted in exploitation and postcolonial misrule. Africa is a rich continent – if you doubt that, explain why it was eyed so voraciously by European colonisers. So why is it that, in the 21st century, its people remain some of the poorest on the planet? It's easy to lay the blame at the door of the colonialists – and, indeed, there is a lot of merit in that argument, because other countries greedily took in Africa's resources but left its people ill-equipped to deal with the years after independence. However, there is no getting away from the fact that Africa's rulers, often setting out a new 'master and servant' paradigm, have been an important factor in why the majority of people of this continent still struggle to build themselves better lives. Those 'big men' – and they have all been men – have used their positions to loot their countries back to a time before Europeans arrived… or so it seems. ALSO READ: SA startup joins Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 as AI innovators get boost However, there is also no doubt that Africa has been a golden – literally and figuratively – opportunity for people to amass fortunes. It is telling, though, to read antipoverty charity Oxfam's latest report that the four richest Africans are wealthier than about half of the continent's 750 million people. Surprisingly, for those adherents to the 'white monopoly capital' theory, Africa's richest man is a black Nigerian. South Africa's Johann Rupert and Nicky Oppenheimer trail him in the money stakes. Over the past five years, according to Oxfam, African billionaires have seen their wealth soar by 56%, with the richest among them recording even higher gains. Nearly half of the top 50 most unequal countries in the world are also on the continent, according to the report. It goes without saying that is a ticking time bomb – not only for Africa, but for South Africa, where inequality is still the major feature of our society. NOW READ: African cities need fiscal power to survive rapid urbanisation

Here's how rich South Africa's 7 billionaires are this week
Here's how rich South Africa's 7 billionaires are this week

The South African

time09-07-2025

  • Business
  • The South African

Here's how rich South Africa's 7 billionaires are this week

It's often said that making money is easy… when you already have some to begin with. The power of compound interest, smart investments, and generational wealth is very real – a fact that's earned compound interest the nickname 'the eighth wonder of the world.' As the age-old saying goes, 'the rich get richer.' And in South Africa, a handful of high-profile businessmen have used savvy strategies, bold decisions, and advantageous starting points to grow staggering fortunes. These seven South African men have made serious money over the years – we're talking billions. Whether through mining, finance, tech, or media, they've built empires that continue to expand, both at home and on the global stage. And if you're wondering just how much wealth we're talking about… let's just say: it's enough to make your calculator sweat. Here are South Africa's richest men – and how they made (and keep making) their fortunes. According to Forbes' real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $14.5 billion. The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.5 billion. They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton and Christo Wiese. South Africa's seven dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail. Last week, Rupert was the big 'winner' as his net worth grew by $800 million (R14.2 billion). Oppenheimer, Motsepe, Le Roux, Mouton and Wiese all gained $100 million (R1.8 billion) to their net worths. Cumulatively, South Africa's seven dollar billionaires are worth $38 billion (R689 billion). Meanwhile, in terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $394 billion. Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 9 July 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 177 Johann Rupert & family $13.7bn $14.5bn Luxury goods 275 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.4bn $10.5bn Diamonds 1 059 Koos Bekker $3.6bn $3.6bn Media, investments 1 185 Patrice Motsepe $3.2bn $3.3bn Mining 1 495 Michiel Le Roux $2.5bn $2.6bn Banking 2 036 Jannie Mouton & family $1.7bn $1.8bn Retail 2 134 Christo Wiese $1.6bn $1.7bn Financial services TOTAL $36.7bn $38bn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

How rich are South Africa's 7 billionaires this week?
How rich are South Africa's 7 billionaires this week?

The South African

time23-06-2025

  • Business
  • The South African

How rich are South Africa's 7 billionaires this week?

It's comparatively 'easy' to make money – when you have money to start with. Compound interest is indeed the eighth wonder of the world! As they say, the rich get richer, while the poor stay, well, poor. Money makes money – and these seven South African men have made a lot of it over the years. And by a lot, we mean a LOT ! According to Forbes' real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $13.7 billion. The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.4 billion. They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton and Christo Wiese. South Africa's seven dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail. Last week, Rupert was the big 'loser' as his net worth dropped by $300 million (R5.4 billion). Oppenheimer, Motsepe, Mouton and Wiese all lost $100 million (R1.8 billion) to their net worths. Cumulatively, South Africa's seven dollar billionaires are worth $36.7 billion (R663 billion). Meanwhile, in terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $409 billion. Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 23 June 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 183 Johann Rupert & family $14bn $13.7bn Luxury goods 271 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.5bn $10.4bn Diamonds 1 049 Koos Bekker $3.6bn $3.6bn Media, investments 1 174 Patrice Motsepe $3.3bn $3.2bn Mining 1 506 Michiel Le Roux $2.5bn $2.5bn Banking 2 056 Jannie Mouton & family $1.8bn $1.7bn Retail 2 149 Christo Wiese $1.7bn $1.6bn Financial services TOTAL $37.4bn $36.7bn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

How rich are South Africa's 7 richest men this week?
How rich are South Africa's 7 richest men this week?

The South African

time09-06-2025

  • Business
  • The South African

How rich are South Africa's 7 richest men this week?

It's comparatively 'easy' to make money – when you have money to start with. Compound interest is indeed the eighth wonder of the world! As they say, the rich get richer, while the poor stay, well, poor. Money makes money – and these seven South African men have made a lot of it over the years. And by a lot, we mean a LOT ! According to Forbes' real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $14 billion. The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.5 billion. They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton and Christo Wiese. South Africa's seven dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail. In the last week alone, Bekker, Motsepe and Wiese all added $100 million (R1.77 billion) to their net worths. Rupert was the big 'loser' as his net worth dropped by $600 million (R10.6 billion). Cumulatively, South Africa's seven dollar billionaires are worth $37.4 billion (R663 billion). Meanwhile, in terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $393.8 billion. Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 9 June 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 179 Johann Rupert & family $14.6bn $14bn Luxury goods 270 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.5bn $10.5bn Diamonds 1 061 Koos Bekker $3.5bn $3.6bn Media, investments 1 147 Patrice Motsepe $3.2bn $3.3bn Mining 1 481 Michiel Le Roux $2.5bn $2.5bn Banking 2 023 Jannie Mouton & family $1.8bn $1.8bn Retail 2 112 Christo Wiese $1.6bn $1.7bn Financial services TOTAL $37.7bn $37.4bn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

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