Top 20 richest men in East Africa (Forbes list 2025)

Introduction – Meet East Africa’s Wealth Pioneers

East Africa’s skyline may be evolving, but its economic narrative is largely written by visionary individuals whose assets span telecom towers, agribusiness, mining, and manufacturing. The Top 20 Richest Men in East Africa and their Net Worth (Forbes List 2025) reflects this dynamic. These men are not only symbols of wealth—they are drivers of regional growth. From bustling cities like Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, and Kigali, their enterprises shape markets and enrich communities. In this post, we explore who they are, how they built their fortunes, and what their wealth means for East Africa’s future.

1. Mohammed "Mo" Dewji (Tanzania) – US $2.2 Billion

Leading the Top 20 Richest Men in East Africa is Tanzania’s own Mohammed "Mo" Dewji, executive chairman of MeTL Group—a regional conglomerate spanning textiles, flour milling, edible oils, beverages, and agribusiness. His net worth more than doubled from US $1.8 billion in 2024 to US $2.2 billion in 2025 theforefrontmagazine.com+3IPP Media+3Forbes+3. Dewji is the region’s only current billionaire, having also pledged generous philanthropy through the Giving Pledge and clean-water initiatives theforefrontmagazine.com.

2. Rostam Aziz (Tanzania) – US $1.0–1.5 Billion

A telecom pioneer and Tanzania’s first billionaire, Rostam Aziz built his wealth through early investment in Vodacom Tanzania (18% ownership) and later stakes in Tigo, LPG, mining, and real estate Wikipedia. Forbes estimates his current net worth between US $1.0 and 1.5 billion—a testament to his diversified empire.

3. Sudhir Ruparelia (Uganda) – US $1.2 Billion

Uganda’s second billionaire and East Africa’s wealth pioneer, Sudhir Ruparelia, chairs the Ruparelia Group—spanning banking, education, insurance, and hospitality. With a net worth of US $1.2 billion, he remains among the Top 20 Richest Men in East Africa Wikipedia+11Wikipedia+11African Billionaires Daily+11.

4. Narendra Raval (Kenya) – US $400 Million

Nicknamed “The Bishop,” Narendra Raval grew Devki Group from a small hardware enterprise into East Africa’s largest steel, cement, and aluminum manufacturer. As of 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth at US $400 millionWikipedia—consolidated among **East Africa’s wealthiest.

5. Bhimji Depar Shah (Kenya) – US $700 Million

Founder of Bidco Africa, Shah has built a food, beverage, and personal care manufacturing empire active in 13 African countries. As of 2015, his wealth was US $700 million, ranking him Kenya’s richest Wikipedia.

6. Mohammed Hussein Al‑Amoudi (Ethiopia) – US $10.3 Billion

Though Ethiopian-Saudi, Al-Amoudi has major industrial interests in Ethiopia—spanning oil refineries, agriculture, construction, and mining—totaling US $10.3 billion Wikipedia. He is considered East Africa’s richest man, though Forbes includes him under Ethiopia.

7. Prateek Suri (Kenya) – US $1.4 Billion

An emerging East African billionaire, Prateek Suri heads the Maser Group, which focuses on consumer electronics, mining, and infrastructure. His expansion makes him a rising figure at US $1.4 billion Wikipedia+2IPP Media+2Bizna Kenya+2theforefrontmagazine.com.

8. Ismail Ahmed (Somalia/Kenya) – Estimated hundreds of millions

Founder of WorldRemit, Ahmed pioneered digital money transfer solutions for diasporas. Though exact wealth figures vary, his success positions him among East Africa’s wealthiest tech entrepreneurs Reddit.

9. Abdirashid Duale (Somalia/Kenya) – High eight digits

CEO of Dahabshiil, the largest Somali-owned money-transfer firm with global outreach, Duale solidified his net worth through both banking and telecom ventures Reddit.

10. Jimcaale (Somalia) – Likely billionaire

Known for founding Hormuud Telecom, major Somali bank Salaama, and Hawala services, Jimcaale maintains a level of wealth often reported around billionaire figures Reddit.

11. Claude Wilfrid Etoka (DR Congo/Uganda) – US $500 Million

Although Central African by origin, Etoka’s SARPD Oil made him a reported US $500 million oil trader in East Africa, particularly Uganda Reddit.

12–20. Additional Wealth Leaders in East Africa

12. Alhaji Mohammed Indimi (Nigeria) – oil magnate with strong East Africa ties; ~US $1.1 billion.

13. Abdirizak Ido (Somalia/Kenya) – telecom founder, net worth ~hundreds of millions Wikipedia+4Graphic Online+4Wikipedia+4Reddit.

14. Mohamed Abshir Abdi (Somalia) – seafood & real estate entrepreneur with regional impact Reddit.

15. Amina Moghe Hersi (Somalia/Uganda) – diversified in real estate, sugar, cement; ~US $100+ million Reddit.

16. Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe) – telecom magnate, US $1.2 billion, with investments in Uganda & ZambiaForbes+6Forbes Africa+6Forbes Africa+6.

17. Issad Rebrab (Algeria) – his food-processing Cevital invests in East Africa; ~US $3 billion Bizna Kenya+5Graphic Online+5Forbes+5.

18. Tony Elumelu (Nigeria) – though Nigerian-based, his UBA bank has major East African presence; ~US $1.4 billion .

19. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – mining titan, investments via ARM; operating in East Africa; US $3 billionNairametrics+6Forbes Africa+6Forbes+6.

20. Koos Bekker (South Africa) – Naspers and media ventures reach Kenya and Rwanda; US $3.4 billion Bizna Kenya+7Forbes Africa+7African Billionaires Daily+7.

Industry Overview: What Drives Their Wealth

1. Manufacturing & Agro-Processing: Dewji, Raval, Depar Shah, and Al-Amoudi control food, steel, oil, and agro-processing.

2. Telecom & Technology: Leaders include Aziz, Ahmed, Duale, and Masiyiwa.

3. Finance & Banking: Ruparelia, Elumelu, and Masiyiwa lead capital expansion.

4. Mining & Energy: Al-Amoudi and Motsepe have strong stakes.

5. Media & Infrastructure: Bekker, Elumelu, and Ahmed invest in information and telecom.

6. Real Estate & Construction: Al-Amoudi and Suri develop across East Africa.

How They Built Their Fortunes

• Vertical Expansion: MeTL integrates farming to packaging; Bidco covers soap to oil.

• Regional Reach: Investments in 10+ countries diversify risk.

• First-mover Advantage: Early telecom entries, especially in Dar, Kampala, Mogadishu.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with multinationals and governments facilitate scale.

• Philanthropic Appeal: Many have joined initiatives like the Giving Pledge—adding social capital to financial might WikipediaRedditReddit+1Wikipedia+1theforefrontmagazine.comWikipedia+3IPP Media+3Forbes+3.

Why It Matters: Regional Implications

• Job Creation: Dewji’s 126 MeTL businesses employ over 40,000 people across East Africa IPP Media.

• Infrastructure Investment: Investments in banking, telecom, roads, and utilities reshape economies.

• Innovation & Digitization: Fintech, media, digital payments, and telecom bolster modern economies.

• Philanthropy & Development: Education, water access, healthcare—leaders like Dewji and Ruparelia invest in sustainable growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is the richest man in East Africa in 2025?
It’s Mohammed “Mo” Dewji with a net worth of US $2.2 billion, making him the only East African in the Forbes Billionaires list Bizna Kenya+2IPP Media+2Wikipedia+2.

2. Are there other billionaires in East Africa?
Yes—Rostam Aziz and Sudhir Ruparelia each have fortunes between US $1–1.5 billion, while others like Prateek Suriand Strive Masiyiwa also exceed the US $1 billion mark .

3. Which industries dominate the wealth list?
Key sectors include manufacturing, telecom, finance, mining, and media.

4. How accurate are these net worth figures?
Figures for billionaires are based on Forbes's stock and valuation data; others are estimates sourced from reputable business publications.

5. Do these individuals engage in philanthropy?
Yes—Dewji, Ruparelia, Aziz, and Ahmed are noted for philanthropic efforts ranging from healthcare and education to direct community programs Wikipedia+1Reddit+1Reddit+5IPP Media+5Wikipedia+5.

6. Are there billionaires of East African origin outside Africa?
Yes—Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, based partly in Saudi Arabia, has US $10.3 billion in assets across Ethiopia and beyond Wikipedia.

7. What future trends will shape East Africa’s wealthy?
Continued expansion in agro-processing, digital finance, renewable energy, and regional trade.

8. How do these individuals compare to West Africa’s richest?
East African billionaires are fewer but influential. They complement Nigeria and South Africa’s dominance in continental wealth rankings.

Conclusion – East Africa’s Economic Vanguard

The Top 20 Richest Men in East Africa and their Net Worth (Forbes List 2025) highlights a region of growing economic complexity. From Mo Dewji’s industrial leadership and Rostam Aziz’s telecom milestones to Sudhir Ruparelia’s banking dominance, these men embody entrepreneurship and progress.

Despite challenges—like infrastructure gaps and governance issues—their investments in business and communities are forging a more prosperous, connected East Africa. As their empires grow, so does regional potential—setting the stage for future leaders to rise from Nairobi, Kigali, Mogadishu, and beyond.

This is not just a wealth rankings list—it is a portrait of a region shaping its own destiny—through enterprise, innovation, and ambition.