Since 1987, Forbes has been tracking the world’s billionaires, initially identifying just 140 individuals. Over the years, this number has grown significantly, surpassing 1,000 in 2006 and 2,000 in 2017. In 2025, the Forbes Billionaires List reached a new milestone, with a record 3,028 billionaires globally—an increase of 247 from the previous year.
Collectively, these billionaires have a net worth of $16.1 trillion, marking a nearly $2 trillion rise compared to 2024. The United States continues to lead with 902 billionaires, followed by China, including Hong Kong, with 516, and India with 205. The rankings were compiled based on stock prices and exchange rates as of March 7, 2025.
African Billionaires on the 2025 Forbes Billionaires List
Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – Rank: 83 | Net Worth: $23.9 Billion
Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest person, ranking 83rd globally with a net worth of $23.9 billion. He is the founder and chairman of Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer, operating in 10 African countries. Dangote also owns a fertilizer plant in Nigeria and the recently operational Dangote Refinery, further solidifying his influence in Africa’s industrial sector.
Johann Rupert & Family (South Africa) – Rank: 165 | Net Worth: $14 Billion
South African billionaire Johann Rupert and his family hold the 165th position with a net worth of $14 billion. He is the chairman of the Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financière Richemont, best known for brands such as Cartier and Montblanc. The company was established in 1998 following the spinoff of assets from Rembrandt Group Limited (now Remgro Limited), founded by Rupert’s father, Anton. He also owns 7% of Remgro, a diversified investment firm, and 27% of Reinet, an investment holding company based in Luxembourg. Rupert has been an outspoken critic of fracking in South Africa’s Karoo region, where he owns significant land.
Nicky Oppenheimer & Family (South Africa) – Rank: 258 | Net Worth: $10.4 Billion
Nicky Oppenheimer, heir to the De Beers diamond fortune, ranks 258th on the list with a net worth of $10.4 billion. He sold his 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American for $5.1 billion in cash in 2012. His family controlled the global diamond trade for 85 years before that sale. In 2014, Oppenheimer founded Fireblade Aviation, a chartered flight service based in Johannesburg. He also owns at least 720 square miles of conservation land across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – Rank: 289 | Net Worth: $9.6 Billion
Nassef Sawiris, a member of Egypt’s wealthiest family, ranks 289th with a net worth of $9.6 billion. He runs OCI, one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, with plants in Texas and Iowa, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange. Sawiris also controls Orascom Construction, a firm trading on the Cairo Exchange and Nasdaq Dubai. His investments include a nearly 6% stake in Adidas and a 5% stake in Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers. He also co-owns Premier League club Aston Villa.
Nathan Kirsh (Eswatini) – Rank: 443 | Net Worth: $7.3 Billion
Nathan “Natie” Kirsh, ranked 443rd, has a net worth of $7.3 billion. His wealth comes primarily from U.S.-based Jetro Holdings, which owns Jetro Cash and Carry and Restaurant Depot, supplying wholesale goods to small businesses in the U.S. Kirsh started his fortune in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) by launching a corn milling business in 1958. He later expanded into wholesale food distribution, supermarkets, and commercial property development in South Africa.
Mike Adenuga (Nigeria) – Rank: 498 | Net Worth: $6.8 Billion
Mike Adenuga, Nigeria’s second-richest man, ranks 498th with a net worth of $6.8 billion. He built his fortune in telecommunications and oil production. His mobile network, Globacom, is Nigeria’s second-largest operator, boasting over 60 million subscribers. His oil company, Conoil Producing, operates six oil blocks in the Niger Delta. Adenuga also owns Glo-1, a 6,100-mile-long submarine internet cable linking the U.K., Ghana, and Portugal. He holds a 74% stake in publicly traded Conoil and nearly 6% of Nigerian bank Sterling Financial Holding.
Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – Rank: 700 | Net Worth: $5.1 Billion
Abdulsamad Rabiu, ranking 700th with a net worth of $5.1 billion, is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate involved in cement production, sugar refining, and real estate. In 2020, Rabiu merged his privately owned Obu Cement company with Cement Co. of Northern Nigeria, creating BUA Cement Plc, which is listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. He owns 98.2% of BUA Cement and 95% of BUA Foods. Rabiu, the son of a businessman, started his own company in 1988, importing iron, steel, and chemicals.
Naguib Sawiris (Egypt) – Rank: 717 | Net Worth: $5 Billion
Naguib Sawiris, ranked 717th with a net worth of $5 billion, built his fortune in telecom and investments. He sold Orascom Telecom to Russian firm VimpelCom (now Veon) in 2011 in a multibillion-dollar deal. He currently chairs Orascom TMT Investments, which has stakes in an Egyptian asset management firm and the Italian internet company Italiaonline. Sawiris also developed Silversands, a luxury resort on the Caribbean island of Grenada.
Other Notable African Billionaires
In addition to those ranked above, several other Africans have made significant wealth and influence in the business world. Their ventures span across industries such as banking, manufacturing, and real estate. These individuals continue to play a crucial role in shaping Africa’s economic landscape, with rising billionaires expected to join the ranks in the coming years.
Conclusion
The 2025 Forbes Billionaires List highlights Africa’s growing presence in the global economy. These billionaires, through their industries ranging from telecommunications and finance to mining and luxury goods, continue to shape economic landscapes both within the continent and beyond. With increasing investments and economic expansion, Africa’s wealthiest individuals are poised to maintain their influence on the global stage for years to come.
