Across Africa, as in other parts of the world, the wealthiest individuals continue to rank among the most prominent and influential figures. According to Forbes, the continent is home to approximately 18 billionaires, each with an average net worth of $4.1 billion—representing a 12% increase from the previous year. This growth has been partly driven by the strong performance of Nigeria’s stock market.
Leading the list is Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, who remains Africa’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $12.6 billion. His fortune increased by $2 billion compared to the previous year, largely due to a nearly 30% rise in the share price of Dangote Cement, his most valuable asset.
In second place is Egypt’s Nassef Sawiris, whose wealth is significantly tied to his nearly 6% stake in global sportswear company Adidas.
Ranked third is South Africa’s Nicky Oppenheimer, former chairman of diamond mining company De Beers. Oppenheimer inherited a substantial stake in the business and led it until 2012, when his family sold its 40% shareholding to Anglo American for $5.1 billion.
One of the most notable gainers in 2026 is Nigerian businessman Abdulsamad Rabiu, another major player in the cement industry. Shares of his company, BUA Cement Plc, which was listed on the Nigerian Exchange in January 2020, have doubled in value over the past year, significantly boosting his net worth.
Notably, Nigeria continues to maintain a strong presence on the list, occupying the 1st, 5th, and 6th positions among Africa’s top 10 richest individuals.
The latest rankings, released by Forbes, highlight the net worth and primary business interests of these leading billionaires. While there have been minimal changes in rankings, fluctuations in net worth reflect broader market dynamics and economic conditions across the continent.
Top 10 Richest Man In Africa
Many readers are keen to understand how these prominent individuals rank among Africa’s wealthiest. Below is a comprehensive list of the top 10 richest men in Africa, including their net worth and primary sources of income.
This ranking provides valuable insight into the industries and investments that continue to drive wealth creation across the continent. From cement manufacturing and telecommunications to mining, finance, and global equity holdings, these business leaders have built expansive portfolios that reflect both regional dominance and international influence.
Beyond their financial standing, these individuals play a significant role in shaping economic growth, job creation, and industrial development within their respective countries. Their business decisions and investment strategies often have far-reaching impacts, reinforcing their status not only as wealthy individuals but also as key contributors to Africa’s economic landscape.
1. Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote’s journey to fortune is not a rags-to-riches story. He came from a wealthy family that was able to provide financial assistance to start his business.
Aliko Dangote’s Net Worth In 2021 is $12.6 billion
- Aliko Dangote has been the richest man in Africa for nine years in a row, with a net worth of more than $12.6 billion as at 2026.
- Dangote’s fortune is primarily built from his company, Dangote Cement, although he started his business empire by selling commodities such as sugar, salt, and flour.
- While he grew up upper-class, Dangote was entrepreneurial from a young age and started his first business with a loan from his uncle.
How Did Aliko Dangote Get Rich?
Aliko Dangote made his fortune by importing and selling agricultural commodities, and later through oil and gas, consumer goods, and manufacturing.
The majority of Dangote’s fortune comes from Dangote Cement, which produces 45.6 million metric tons of cement every year and operates in 10 African countries.
What Does Dangote Produce?
Dangote primarily produces cement, oil, and other commodities such as sugar.
Who Is Aliko Dangote’s Wife?
Aliko Dangote is a bachelor and not currently married.
Who Is the Richest Black Person in the World?
Aliko Dangote is the richest Black person in the world.
2. Nassef Sawiris
Nassef Sawiris is an investor and a scion of Egypt’s wealthiest family. His most valuable asset is a nearly 6% stake in sportswear maker Adidas.
In December 2020, he acquired a 5% stake in New York-listed firm Madison Square Garden Sports, owner of the NBA Knicks and the NHL Rangers teams.
He runs OCI, one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, with plants in Texas and Iowa; it trades on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange.
Orascom Construction, an engineering and building firm, trades on the Cairo exchange and Nasdaq Dubai.
His holdings include stakes in cement giant Lafarge Holcim and Adidas; he sits on the supervisory board of Adidas.
Nassef Sawiris Net Worth is $8.3B
He is the executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Orascom Development Holding AG. As of 2025 his net worth was estimated at $8.3 billion, making him the second richest person in the Africa.
3. Nicky Oppenheimer
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.
He was the third generation of his family to run DeBeers, and took the company private in 2001.
For 85 years until 2012, the Oppenheimer family occupied a controlling spot in the world’s diamond trade.
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.
Nicky Oppenheimer Net Worth $7.9B
Nicky Oppenheimer net worth is $7.79 billion as at 2021 which makes him the richest person in Africa. Born in South Africa.
4. Johann Rupert
Johann Rupert is chairman of Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont.
The company is best known for the brands Cartier and Montblanc.
It was formed in 1998 through a spinoff of assets owned by Rembrandt Group Limited (now Remgro Limited), which his father Anton formed in the 1940s.
He 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.
In recent years, Rupert has been a vocal opponent of plans to allow fracking in the Karoo, a region of South Africa where he owns land.
Johann Rupert Net Worth in 2021 is $7.2B
5. Mike Adenuga
Adenuga, Nigeria’s second richest man, built his fortune in telecom and oil production.
His mobile phone network, Globacom, is the third largest operator in Nigeria, with 55 million subscribers.
His oil exploration outfit, Conoil Producing, operates 6 oil blocks in the Niger Delta.
Adenuga got an MBA at Pace University in New York, supporting himself as a student by working as a taxi driver.
He made his first million at age 26 selling lace and distributing soft drinks.
Mike Adenuga Net Worth in 2021 is $6.3B
Adenuga is the #5 Africa’s Billionaires richest man for 2021.
Mike Adenuga’s real time net worth as at 2021 $6.3billion according to Forbes
Mike Adenuga has a leading Oil and Gas Company running with the vision of dominating the indigenous upstream petroleum companies in Africa.
Also has one of the largest telecommunication company in Africa. Globacom has different products including Glo Gateway, Glo Broad Access, Glo mobile and Glo-1 coverage.
6. Abdulsamad Rabiu
Abdulsamad Rabiu is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate.
In early January 2020, Rabiu merged his privately-owned Obu Cement company with listed firm Cement Co. of Northern Nigeria, which he controlled.
The combined firm, called BUA Cement Plc, trades on the Nigerian stock exchange; Rabiu owns 98.5% of it.
Rabiu, the son of a businessman, inherited land from his father.
He set up his own business in 1988 importing iron, steel and chemicals.
Abdulsamad Rabiu Net Worth is $5.4B
Abdulsamad Rabiu net worth as at 2021 is $5.4B.
Abdulsamad Rabi is a Nigerian businessman who is the sixth richest man in Africa.
He is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in sugar refining, cement production, real estate, steel, port concessions, manufacturing, oil and gas, and shipping.
The group also owns the ship BUA Cement 1, a 200-meter long vessel designed for heavy loads. It is Nigeria’s first floating terminal.
7. Issad Rebrab
Issad Rebrab is the founder and CEO of Cevital, Algeria’s biggest privately-held company.
Cevital owns one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, with the capacity to produce 2 million tons a year.
Cevital owns European companies, including French home appliances maker Groupe Brandt, an Italian steel mill and a German water purification company.
After serving 8 months in jail on charges of corruption, Rebrab was released on January 1, 2020. He denies any wrongdoing.
Issad Rebrab Net Worth is $4.8B
Issad Rebrab is an Algerian businessman who has a net worth of $4.8 billion in this 2021. Mr. Rebrab rose to billionaires’ top 10 ranks Africa, thanks to his impressive $4.8 billion (sales) food business, Cevital.
8. Naguib Sawiris
Naguib Onsi Sawiris is an Egyptian billionaire businessman. Sawiris is chairman of Weather Investments’s parent company, and chairman and CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding
Naguib Sawiris is a scion of Egypt’s wealthiest family. His brother Nassef is also a billionaire.
He built a fortune in telecom, selling Orascom Telecom in 2011 to Russian telecom firm VimpelCom (now Veon) in a multibillion-dollar transaction.
He’s chairman of Orascom TMT Investments, which has stakes in an asset manager in Egypt and Italian internet company Italiaonline, among others.
Through his Media Globe Holdings, Sawiris owns 88% of pan-European pay TV and video news network Euronews.
He also developed a luxury resort called Silversands on the Caribbean island of Grenada.
Naguib Sawiris Net Worth is $3.2B
Naguib Sawiris is the neight richest man in Africa with a net worth of $3.2 billion as this year 2021.
9. Patrice Motsepe
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 mining services contracting business.
In 1997, he bought low-producing gold mine shafts and later turned them profitable.
Patrice Motsepe Net Worth is $3 B
Patrice Motsepe Net worth is $3 billion.
Motsepe became the first Black African to appear on Forbes’ billionaire ist after reachint that status in 2008.
He is the founder of African Rainbow Minerals, which holds investments in minerals such as platinum, copper, and coal. He is also the founder of the private equity firm African Rainbow Capital.
10. Koos Bekker
Koos Bekker is revered for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV powerhouse.
He led Naspers to invest in Chinese Internet and media firm Tencent in 2001 — by far the most profitable of the bets he made on companies elsewhere.
In 2019, Naspers put some assets into two publicly-traded companies, entertainment firm MultiChoice Group and Prosus, which contains the Tencent stake
It sold a 2% stake in Tencent in March 2018, its first time reducing its holding, but stated at the time it would not sell again for 3 years.
Bekker, who retired as the CEO of Naspers in March 2014, returned as chairman in April 2015.
Koos Bekker Net Worth is $2.9 billion
Net worth: $2.9 billion
Age: 68
Location: South Africa
Industry: Media
Source of wealth: Bekker is the chairman of Naspers, a media group that operates in over 100 countries. Naspers is one of the world’s largest technology investors, as reported by Forbes. The company also holds an investment in Tencent, a Chinese internet and media company.
