Popular S’African billionaire dethrones Dangote as Africa’s richest man

Aliko Dangote, chief executive officer of Dangote Group, gestures after signing a factory construction contract with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd. in Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. Dangote Cement has expanded capacity five-fold in the last four years as the company invested outside its home market. Photographer: Tom Saater/Bloomberg

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Johann Rupert and his family are now considered the wealthiest individuals in Africa, surpassing Aliko Dangote, according to Forbes Magazine’s latest list. Nigerian billionaires Rabiu Abdulsamad and Mike Adenuga have dropped in the billionaire rankings as reported by the financial magazine.

Nigerian billionaires Rabiu Abdulsamad and Mike Adenuga lost their positions in the Forbes billionaire rankings. Aliko Dangote, who was at the top, slipped to second place with his wealth dropping from $13.5 billion in 2023 to $9.5 billion in 2024.

The economic challenges in African countries, such as the devaluation of the Naira, contributed to the decline in wealth. In 2024, Johann Rupert & Family emerged as Africa’s richest, with their wealth decreasing from $10.7 billion to $10.3 billion. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family from South Africa maintained their wealth at $8.4 billion.

Nassif Sawiris moved up to the fourth position, displacing Rabiu Abdulsamad, while Nathan Kirsh from Eswatini entered the list at the sixth position with a net worth of $5.8 billion. Mike Adenuga dropped to the tenth position as his wealth decreased from $6.3 billion to $3.1 billion.

Issad Rebrab & Family from Algeria held the seventh rank with $4.6 billion. Mohamed Mansour moved from the tenth to the eighth position with his wealth increasing from $2.9 billion to $3.6 billion. Naguib Sawiris maintained the ninth position with a net worth of $3.3 billion. Patrice Motsepe, who was ninth in 2023, did not make the top ten in 2024, with his wealth depreciating to $2.5 billion.

Here is the list of Africa’s richest men based on their net worth:

  1. Johann Rupert & Family: $10.3 billion
  2. Aliko Dangote: $9.5 billion
  3. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family: $8.3 billion
  4. Nassef Sawiris: $7.4 billion
  5. Abdulsamad Rabiu: $5.9 billion
  6. Nathan Kirsh: $5.8 billion
  7. Issad Rebrab & Family: $4.6 billion
  8. Mohamed Mansour: $3.6 billion
  9. Naguib Sawiris: $3.3 billion
  10. Mike Adenuga: $3.1 billion
samuel Ayoola: