The Top 10 Richest People In South Africa include Johann Rupert and family, Nicky Oppenheimer and family, Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton, Christo Wiese, Dalikhaya Zihlangu, and Magda Wierzycka, according to various sources.
Top 10 Richest People in South Africa in 2025: Wealth, Millionaires, and More
South Africa boasts a vibrant economy with a unique blend of industries, from mining to luxury goods, fostering some of Africa’s wealthiest individuals. This article dives into the top 10 richest people in South Africa for 2025, the number of millionaires in the country, and key details about the richest man and woman in South Africa, the richest man in Africa, and notable figures like Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe.
We also provide a global perspective with the top 10 richest people in the world and Africa, alongside insights into Johann Rupert’s companies and Patrice Motsepe’s net worth.
Top 10 Richest People in South Africa in 2025
Based on recent data from Forbes and Bloomberg, here’s the list of South Africa’s wealthiest individuals as of 2025, with their net worth and primary sources of wealth:
- Johann Rupert & Family
- Net Worth: $14.77 billion
- Industry: Luxury Goods (Fashion & Retail)
- Details: Johann Rupert, South Africa’s richest man, chairs Compagnie Financière Richemont, a Swiss-based luxury goods company owning brands like Cartier and Montblanc. He also holds a 7% stake in Remgro and 26% in Reinet Investments, both diversified investment firms. His wealth surged by 39% in 2024, making him Africa’s second-richest person.
- Nicky Oppenheimer & Family
- Net Worth: $10.4 billion
- Industry: Mining (Diamonds)
- Details: A former chairman of De Beers, Oppenheimer, sold his family’s 40% stake to Anglo American in 2012 for $5.1 billion. He now invests through Tana Africa Capital and owns Fireblade Aviation and vast conservation lands across Southern Africa.
- Koos Bekker
- Net Worth: $2.6 billion
- Industry: Media & Entertainment
- Details: Bekker transformed Naspers into a global e-commerce giant, notably with a $34 million investment in Tencent in 2001. He owns the Babylonstoren estate in the Western Cape.
- Patrice Motsepe
- Net Worth: $2.6 billion
- Industry: Mining
- Details: South Africa’s first black billionaire, Motsepe founded African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), focusing on gold, platinum, and coal. He also owns stakes in Sanlam and is president of the Confederation of African Football.
- Michiel Le Roux
- Net Worth: $1.87 billion
- Industry: Banking
- Details: Founder of Capitec Bank, Le Roux revolutionized retail banking with a low-cost model. He owns about 11% of the bank, which targets South Africa’s emerging middle class.
- Christoffel Wiese
- Net Worth: $1.5 billion
- Industry: Retail
- Details: Wiese built the Pepkor retail empire, including Shoprite, Africa’s largest supermarket chain. His fortune rebounded after an accounting scandal, with a 59% jump in Capitec’s share price.
- Jannie Mouton
- Net Worth: $1.5 billion
- Industry: Investments
- Details: Founder of PSG Group, Mouton’s wealth grew due to a surge in Capitec Bank Holdings’ share price. His investments span financial services, banking, and private equity.
- Allan Gray (Deceased, included in historical context)
- Net Worth (at peak): $8.5 billion
- Industry: Finance
- Details: Gray was the founder of Allan Gray Investment Management and a prominent philanthropist. His wealth is no longer listed due to his passing, but his legacy remains significant.
- Zak Calisto (Emerging Billionaire)
- Net Worth: Approaching $1.1 billion
- Industry: Technology (Fleet Management)
- Details: Calisto, founder of Karooooo, a telematics company, is poised to become South Africa’s newest billionaire, with his holdings nearing the billion-dollar mark.
- Unlisted/Variable
- Note: The 10th spot varies due to fluctuating net worths and emerging billionaires. Historical data mentions figures like Natie Kirsh ($9.22 billion, Swaziland citizen), who may appear in some rankings but is excluded here due to residency.
How Many Millionaires Are in South Africa?
As of 2024, South Africa had approximately 43,000 dollar millionaires, a decline from 47,000 the previous year, largely due to the rand’s depreciation against the dollar. Despite this, South Africa remains a wealth hub, with 62,000 individuals among the top 1% of global wealth holders. Household wealth per adult has tripled since 2000, reaching $25,800 in 2007, though growth has slowed due to currency challenges.
Richest Man in South Africa
Johann Rupert is South Africa’s richest man in 2025, with a net worth of $14.77 billion. His wealth stems from Richemont, where he holds a 10.18% stake and 51% voting power, alongside investments in Remgro and Reinet. His fortune grew significantly in 2024, driven by Richemont’s record revenues of €6.15 billion in Q3 2024.
Richest Woman in South Africa
There are no female billionaires listed in South Africa’s top rankings for 2025. Globally, Alice Walton is the richest woman, with a net worth of $115 billion from her Walmart holdings, but no South African woman currently holds a comparable billionaire status.
Richest Man in Africa
Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is Africa’s richest man in 2025, with a net worth of approximately $15 billion, reclaiming the title from Johann Rupert. His wealth is driven by Dangote Cement and other ventures in sugar and fertilizers. Rupert, with $14.77 billion, is a close second.
Richest Man in the World
Elon Musk, born in South Africa, is the world’s richest man in 2025, with a net worth of $426.8 billion. His wealth comes primarily from Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures like The Boring Company and Neuralink.
Top 10 Richest People in the World
According to Forbes and Bloomberg, the top 10 richest people globally in 2025 are:
- Elon Musk – $426.8 billion (Tesla, SpaceX)
- Jeff Bezos – $234.6 billion (Amazon)
- Mark Zuckerberg – $211.3 billion (Meta)
- Larry Ellison – $206 billion (Oracle)
- Bernard Arnault – $193 billion (LVMH)
- Warren Buffett – $150 billion (Berkshire Hathaway)
- Larry Page – $145 billion (Google)
- Sergey Brin – $140 billion (Google)
- Steve Ballmer – $130 billion (Microsoft)
- Mukesh Ambani – $115 billion (Reliance Industries)
Top 10 Richest People in Africa
The 2025 Forbes list highlights Africa’s wealthiest, with a combined net worth of $82.4 billion:
- Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – $15 billion (Cement, Sugar)
- Johann Rupert (South Africa) – $14.77 billion (Luxury Goods)
- Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa) – $10.4 billion (Diamonds)
- Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – $9.6 billion (Construction, Investments)
- Natie Kirsh (Swaziland/South Africa) – $9.22 billion (Real Estate, Investments)
- Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $6.4 billion (Cement, Sugar)
- Issad Rebrab (Algeria) – $4.6 billion (Food Processing)
- Mohamed Mansour (Egypt) – $4 billion (Automotive, Retail)
- Koos Bekker (South Africa) – $2.6 billion (Media)
- Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – $2.6 billion (Mining)
Johann Rupert’s Companies
Johann Rupert’s wealth is tied to three major entities:
- Compagnie Financière Richemont: A Swiss luxury goods company with brands like Cartier, Montblanc, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Rupert holds a 10.18% stake and 51% voting power, with Richemont’s market cap at R17.58 trillion.
- Remgro: A South African investment firm with stakes in healthcare, insurance, banking, and media. Rupert chairs the company and owns 7%.
- Reinet Investments: A Luxembourg-based holding company with a 26% stake held by Rupert, focusing on financial services and other investments.
Patrice Motsepe’s Net Worth
Patrice Motsepe has a net worth of $2.6 billion in 2025. His fortune is primarily from African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), where he holds a 40.37% stake, alongside investments in Sanlam and African Rainbow Capital. His wealth saw a modest $300 million increase in 2024.
The 100 Richest People in South Africa
While comprehensive data on the top 100 richest individuals in South Africa is limited, Forbes and Bloomberg track billionaires and high-net-worth individuals. Beyond the top 10, emerging figures like Zak Calisto and historical names like Allan Gray suggest a dynamic wealth landscape. Detailed lists of the top 100 are not publicly available, but South Africa’s 43,000 millionaires indicate a broad base of wealth.
Conclusion
South Africa’s richest individuals, led by Johann Rupert, showcase the country’s economic diversity and resilience. With 43,000 millionaires and seven billionaires, the nation remains a wealth powerhouse in Africa. Globally, South African-born Elon Musk dominates as the world’s richest man, while Aliko Dangote holds Africa’s top spot. The fortunes of figures like Rupert and Motsepe highlight the impact of strategic investments in luxury goods, mining, and banking.
For more details on wealth rankings, visit Forbes or the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Stay updated on South Africa’s economic landscape and its global influence!
