Top 10 Richest Men In Africa According To Forbes (2025)

Hello my people! Welcome again to another deep-dive into the world of African money moves—real-time billionaires whose bank accounts make serious statements. Today, we’re looking at the Top 10 Richest Men in Africa for 2025, as compiled by Forbes.

Now, before you roll your eyes and say “Abeg, wetin concern me with billionaires?”—hold up. These men are not just stacking wealth for show. The way they built their empires tells us a lot about Africa’s economy, business potential, and how to spot the next big wave.

So let’s break this down—not in dry textbook language—but in plain, relatable English, with the right dash of economics and small gist on the side.

1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – $23.9 Billion

We can’t talk about African billionaires without starting with the big boss himself—Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Every year, Forbes crowns him the Richest Man in Africa, and for 2025, he’s still holding that crown with a jaw-dropping $23.9 billion net worth.

What’s powering this insane wealth? Two words: Dangote Refinery.

This refinery, which officially began operations in 2024, is a game-changer not just for Nigeria but for the whole of Africa. We’re talking about one of the largest single-train refineries in the world, built in Lagos, capable of producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day.

Before this refinery, Dangote was already the king of cement, salt, sugar, flour—you name it. But with oil and gas now under his belt, he has firmly cemented (pun intended) his spot as Africa’s top industrialist.

And let’s not forget—he didn’t inherit his billions. This man started with trading and moved into manufacturing when nobody else was taking the risk. For me, Dangote is a practical example of vertical integration and long-term vision.

2. Johann Rupert (South Africa) – $14 Billion

Next on the list is Johann Rupert, South Africa’s luxury king. With an estimated $14 billion, this man made his money from things of beauty—watches, fashion, jewelry.

Rupert is the chairman of Richemont, the company that owns Cartier, Montblanc, and other luxury brands that even rich people dream of owning.

Here’s the economics behind his wealth: when global demand for luxury goods goes up, Richemont’s profits shoot up too. And Rupert, who owns a fat chunk of the shares, gets richer.

But he’s not all about watches and suits. He also runs Remgro, a diversified investment firm with interests in healthcare, banking, and energy. That’s how you build generational wealth—diversify and invest in future-proof sectors.

3. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa) – $10.4 Billion

You know how they say “diamonds are forever”? Well, for Nicky Oppenheimer, they also made him a billionaire—$10.4 billion to be precise.

Oppenheimer was the chairman of De Beers, the global diamond company that controlled most of the world’s diamond supply for decades. He sold his family’s stake in De Beers to Anglo American for $5.1 billion in 2012. Since then, he’s been investing in conservation, aviation, and philanthropy.

His story is important for understanding how value can be extracted from natural resources, but more importantly, how to invest that value in sectors that continue to give returns over time.

4. Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – $9.6 Billion

When you hear Egypt, you probably think pyramids and tourism. But the real modern powerhouses are the Sawiris brothers, and Nassef is the richest of the lot with $9.6 billion.

Nassef runs OCI N.V., one of the world’s biggest producers of nitrogen fertilizers. If you understand how critical food production is, you’ll know that fertilizers are literally gold in disguise.

He also owns shares in Adidas and is a co-owner of Aston Villa Football Club in the UK. That’s how international his investments are.

From a business strategy point of view, Sawiris shows us how leveraging infrastructure, agriculture, and global equity markets can be a winning combo.

5. Mike Adenuga (Nigeria) – $6.8 Billion

Coming back to Naija, we meet the low-key but high-value Dr. Mike Adenuga, worth $6.8 billion.

His company Globacom (or Glo, as we all know it) is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator. And he owns Conoil, one of the top indigenous oil firms in the country.

What makes Adenuga special is that he doesn’t talk too much—he just moves. He built his wealth in telecom and oil, two of the most capital-intensive but profitable industries in Nigeria.

This shows us something critical: while everyone is running into fintech or crypto, old industries like energy and infrastructure are still printing money.

6. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $5.1 Billion

Another Nigerian billionaire making serious waves is Abdulsamad Rabiu, with a net worth of $5.1 billion.

His company, BUA Group, operates in cement, sugar, pasta, and real estate. In fact, BUA is one of the few companies in West Africa that can challenge Dangote in cement production.

Rabiu is known for expanding into underserved markets and building his plants closer to raw materials, which saves cost and improves margins. That’s how you win in manufacturing—optimize your supply chain.

7. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt) – $5 Billion

Now let’s talk about Naguib, the older brother of Nassef Sawiris. His net worth stands at $5 billion, and his money came from telecommunications.

Naguib built Orascom Telecom, which expanded across Africa and the Middle East before being sold to VimpelCom (now VEON). Since then, he’s been investing in media, real estate, and tourism.

Naguib’s strategy shows how scaling across borders—especially in underpenetrated markets—can lead to explosive wealth creation.

8. Koos Bekker (South Africa) – $3.4 Billion

If you’ve ever heard of Naspers, then you’re hearing about Koos Bekker. This guy took a small South African media company and turned it into a global tech investor.

His net worth is about $3.4 billion, mostly because of Naspers’ early investment in Tencent, the Chinese tech giant behind WeChat and many gaming platforms.

Even though he’s cashed out some of those gains, Bekker’s story is a case study in venture capital done right. Invest early. Hold. Then exit when the valuation is right.

9. Mohamed Mansour (Egypt) – $3.4 Billion

Tied with Koos Bekker is Mohamed Mansour, the Egyptian billionaire who runs Mansour Group—a huge conglomerate with operations in automobile distribution, retail, and consumer goods.

He’s the distributor of General Motors and Caterpillar equipment across Africa. His wealth, sitting at $3.4 billion, is built on logistics, manufacturing, and trade—industries that don’t often get attention but drive the economy.

10. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – $3 Billion

& Issad Rebrab (Algeria) – $3 Billion

Last but definitely not least, we have a tie at number 10:

• Patrice Motsepe is South Africa’s first black billionaire and the founder of African Rainbow Minerals. He’s also currently the president of CAF (Confederation of African Football). His wealth of $3 billion is from mining—but his influence goes beyond the boardroom.

• Issad Rebrab, on the other hand, is the richest man in Algeria. He built Cevital, a massive conglomerate with interests in food processing, retail, and electronics. He’s proof that industrialization in North Africa is alive and well.

Final Thoughts: What Can We Learn From These Billionaires?

Let’s be honest—most of us won’t hit billion-dollar status, but the real takeaway here is how these men think:

• They invest long-term

• They diversify across industries

• They solve large-scale problems (like food, housing, communication, energy)

• They don’t follow trends—they build infrastructure

From Dangote’s refinery to Sawiris’s fertilizers, these men are shaping how Africa moves forward—economically, politically, and even culturally.

So instead of just admiring their net worth, ask yourself: What is the next pain point I can solve at scale? That’s the billionaire mindset in action.

Let me know in the comments who you think should be on this list next year. Will it be a tech founder? A new oil magnate? Or maybe even a crypto boss?