Balling In The Motherland: Top 5 Billionaires In Africa

If you ever thought about taking a trip to the Motherland here’s a few African Billionaires you can look up while you’re there. Billions in Africa will get you way further than Billions in America. Enjoy the high life! 

#5: Mike Adenuga

Net Worth: $4.3 Billion (as of November 2011)

Age: 58

Country: Nigeria

Marital Status: Married

Source of Wealth: Telcom, Banking, Oil, Self-Made

A reclusive tycoon, Mike Adenuga runs Conoil Producing, the first Nigerian company to strike oil in commercial quantities in the early 1990s. Today Conoil Producing is Nigeria’s largest oil exploration company, producing an estimated 100,000 barrels per day. The “Guru” also owns Globacom, Nigeria’s 2nd largest mobile telecom operator. He made his first million at the age of 26 selling lace and distributing soft drinks, but hit it big through the benefaction of Nigeria’s former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.

#4 Johann Rupert & Family

Net Worth: 4.7 Billion (as of November 2011)

Age: 61

Country: South Africa

Source of Wealth: Luxury Goods

Johann Rupert is South Africa’s luxury goods billionaire. He serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Richemont, a Swiss holding company that controls brands such as Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Alfred Dunhill, Montblanc and Chloé. In 2010 Richemont acquired online fashion portal Net-a-Porter for $343 million. 

#3 Nassef Sawiris

Net Worth: $4.75 Billion ($5.9 Billion in 2010)

Age: 50

Country: Egypt

Marital Status: Married

Source Of Wealth: Construction

Nassef Sawiris runs Orascom Construction Industries, Egypt’s most valuable publicly-traded company, which was founded by father Onsi. The construction and fertilizer company’s shares fell almost one-third during the protests leading up to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation in February.

#2 Nicky Oppenheimer & Family

Net Worth: $6.5 Billion

Age: 66

Country: South Africa

Marital Status: Married

Source Of Wealth: Diamonds

Africa’s diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer made a momentous decision in early November to sell his family’s 40% stake in De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, to mining behemoth Anglo American for $5.1 billion. (Anglo American already owns 45% of DeBeers.) The all-cash deal will mark the end of the Oppenheimers’ control of De Beers, a relationship that began when Nicky’s grandfather, Ernest Oppenheimer, took over the firm in 1927.

#1 Aliko Dangote

Net Worth: $10.1 Billion

Age: 54

Country: Nigeria

Marital Status: Married

Source Of Wealth: Sugar, Flour, Cement

Nigerian commodities titan Aliko Dangote is also Africa’s cement king. In late 2010, he listed Dangote Cement on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The company integrated Dangote’s cement investments across Africa, including Benue Cement, formerly listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It’s now the largest company on the Nigerian exchange, with a market capitalization of $10 billion.

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