Africa’s Billionaires on the 2011 Forbes Rich List

Posted on March 10, 2011 under Editor's Choice ZeitGeist African Billionaires on the 2011 Forbes Rich List, Aliko Dangote forbes billionaire, Johann Rupert & family forbes billionaire, Mike Adenuga forbes billionaire, Mohamed Mansour forbes billionnaire, Nassef Sawiris forbes billionaire, Nicky Oppenheimer & family forbes billionaire, Onsi Sawiris forbes billionaires, Patrice Motsepe forbes billionnaire

Last year we brought you the comprehensive list of African Billionaires on the Forbes Billionaires List, with commentary on “The Wrongs and Rights of Africa’s Rich List.”

This year’s list broke records in size (1,210 billionaires) and total net worth ($4.5 trillion). China which had 50 billionaires on the list in 2010 doubled its number this year. Mexico’s Carlos Slim remain at No. 1. Africa’s total billionaires numbered 11 in 2010. This year there are 14 on the 2011 Forbes Rich list made up of two Nigerians, 4 South Africans and 8 Egyptians.

Our favourite billionaire for 2010 was the Sudanese, Mohamed Ibrahim a staunch advocate for Africa and a contributor to socio-political issues across the continent. Mohamed Ibrahim who also made it onto the MyWeku rainmakers list for 2010  did not make the cut for this year’s (2011) Forbes Rich List.

Profiles of the African Billionaires (Compiled from the Forbes Rich List 2011)

1 - Aliko Dangote



$13.8 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 53

Source: sugar, flour, cement , inherited and growing

Residence: Lagos, Nigeria

Country of citizenship: Nigeria

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

World’s Billionaires

#51 overall

#1 in Nigeria

The Nigerian businessman’s fortune surged 557% in the past year, making him the world’s biggest gainer in percentage terms and Africa’s richest individual for the first time. The catalyst was listing Dangote Cement, which integrated his investments across Africa with his previously public Benue Cement; it now accounts for a quarter of the Nigeria Stock Exchange’s total market cap. Already the continent’s biggest cement maker, he has plants under construction in Zambia, Tanzania, Congo and Ethiopa and is building cement terminals in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia, among other places. Dangote, who recently bought himself a $45 million Bombardier aircraft for his birthday, has been shuttling back and forth to London for months, in anticipation of a public offering there later this year. Dangote began his career as a commodities trader; built his Dangote Group into conglomerate with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, textiles, real estate, and oil and gas.

2 - Nicky Oppenheimer & family



$7 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 65

Source: De Beers, inherited

Residence: Johannesburg, South Africa

Country of citizenship: South Africa

Education: BA/BS, Oxford U Christ Church; MA, Oxford U Christ Church

Marital Status: Married

Children: 1

World’s Billionaires

#136 overall

#1 in South Africa

The ‘forever’ part of the diamonds story don’t seem to be rubbing off on the fortunes of De Beers. The world’s largest diamond producer, owned by Oppenheimer, has seen a choppy ride in the last couple of years. Buyers took flight in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and are now slowly coming back led by developing countries such as India and China. The company cut costs aggressively last year and has been selling off some of its assets in 2010, a year that it said was better than expected.Oppenheimer quashed speculation in January that he was divesting the family’s 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American, which already owns 45% in it. The Oppenheimer family, in turn, owns 2% in mining giant Anglo American, founded in 1917 by grandfather Ernest. Passionate conservationist, owns Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, largest private game reserve in South Africa.

3 - Nassef Sawiris


$5.6 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 50

Source: construction, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Education: BA/BS, University of Chicago

World’s Billionaires

#182 overall

#1 in Egypt

Youngest son of Orascom founder and billionaire Onsi Sawiris. Took over leadership of empire’s flagship construction and fertilizer division in 1998. In 2007, sold cement business in Algeria to French construction giant Lafarge. Owns 13.9% stake in Lafarge, and sits on board . Also largest shareholder in cement producer Texas Industries. Had berated management’s poor performance, but recently reached agreement to boost stake to no more than 20%. Shares of Orascom on London exchange plunged by more than one-third after uprising in Egypt.

4 - Johann Rupert & family



$4.8 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 60

Source: luxury goods, inherited and growing

Residence: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Country of citizenship: South Africa

Education: BA/BS, University of Stellenbosch

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

World’s Billionaires

#219 overall

#2 in South Africa

Owns publicly traded Swiss luxury group Richemont, which owns Cartier, Dunhill, makes Chloe bags and MontBlanc pens. Company has been doing better than analyst expectations on the back of accelerating sales in Asia-Pacific. Big on acquisitions: Richemont bought out online fashion portal Net-a-Porter 350 million pounds in April 2010 while his South African holding company, Remgro, bought out private South African investment outfit, VenFin, earlier. Appointed as Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch,in South Africa where he has an office. With family relatives, owns two of South Africa’s best-known vineyards, Rupert & Rothschild and L’Ormarins; owns one of the country’s most exclusive golf clubs. Launched L’Ormarins 1200 car rally;has been pushed back from October 2010 to end-2011. Recently, he vowed to take on oil multinational Shell, opposing shale gas development in SA.

5 - Naguib Sawiris



$3.5 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 56

Source: telecom, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Education: BA/BS, Swiss Federal Polytechnical Institute; MS, Swiss Federal Polytechnical Institute

Marital Status: Married

Children: 4

World’s Billionaires

#310 overall

#2 in Egypt

Eldest son of Orascom founder Onsi Sawiris played a role in Egypt’s revolution, calling on Hosni Mubarak to step down and new government to be formed. Now seems to be distancing himself from politics. Heads Wind Telecom, which provides mobile services across Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Europe and Canada through Orascom Telecom, Italy’s Wind Telecomunicazioni and Greece’s Wind Hellas. Russian mobile operator Vimpelcom offered to buy Wind Telecom assets for $6.6 billion; Naguib is reportedly considering a revised offer. Failed earlier to sell his telecom assets to South African operator MTN Group.

6 - Patrice Motsepe



$3.3 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 49

Source: Mining, self-made

Residence: Johannesburg, South Africa

Country of citizenship: South Africa

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

World’s Billionaires

#336 overall

#3 in South Africa

Johannesburg mining magnate is South Africa’s first black billionaire. Net worth up this year by $1 billion as a result of rising stock prices. Born in the sprawling black township of Soweto and then trained as a lawyer, became first black partner at Bowman Gilfillan law firm in Johannesburg, before starting a contracting business doing mine scut work. Bought low-producing gold mine shafts in 1994, turned them profitable using lean, mean management style. Since then built $1.5 billion (sales) mining conglomerate, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), with interests in platinum, nickel, chrome, iron, manganese, coal and gold. Benefited from South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws, which mandate that companies be at least 26% black-owned in order to get a government mining license. Also holds a stake in Sanlam, a publicly traded financial services company outside Cape Town where he sits on the board.

7 - Onsi Sawiris



$2.9 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 81

Source: construction, self-made

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

World’s Billionaires

#393 overall

#3 in Egypt

Founding patriarch of Egypt’s most famous business dynasty. Onsi’s three sons Naguib, Samih and Nassef run separate Orascom telecom, hotels and construction divisions. Studied agriculture in college after father urged him to pursue farming. Found it boring, and instead opened a small contracting firm in Upper Egypt. Was forced to rebuild after Nasser nationalized company in 1960s.

8 - Mohamed Mansour



$2 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 63

Source: cotton trading, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Education: MBA, Auburn University

Marital Status: Married

Children: 2

World’s Billionaires

#595 overall

#4 in Egypt

Mansour and his two brothers debut on the billionaires list, each with their own billion-dollar fortune despite revolution raging in their native Egypt. The Mansours are the biggest sellers of GM vehicles worldwide, and their Mansour Group has other interests including the largest supermarket chain in Egypt and the country’s second largest real estate developer. Sustained little damage during the Egypt uprising; any long term impact remains unclear. Mohammed was the country’s Minister of Transportation from 2005 until 2009; his sprawling estate in Cairo overlooks the pyramids.

9 - Mike Adenuga



$2 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 57

Source: banking, self-made

Residence: Lagos, Nigeria

Country of citizenship: Nigeria

Education: MBA, Pace University New York

Marital Status: Married

World’s Billionaires New to the list

#595 overall

#2 in Nigeria

Nicknamed “the Guru” in his native Nigeria, Adenuga debuts on our billionaires list after making waves with mobile technology. His telecoms carrier Globacom recently launched a 4G network, and he’s invested $1 billion on a submarine cable connecting Nigeria to the rest of the world. He made his first million at age 26 selling lace and distributing Coca-Cola, then won a contract to build military barracks in the late 1980s. He owns a stake in the Equitorial Trust Bank and chairs Niger Delta oil exploration firm Conoil. Adenuga is a soccer devotee and sponsors a number of tournaments.

10 - Yasseen Mansour



$1.8 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 49

Source: Diversified, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Education: BA/BS, George Washington University

Marital Status: Married

Children: 4

World’s Billionaires New to the list

#692 overall

#5 in Egypt

New on the list. Youngest brother of Mohamed Mansour, 49-year-old Yasseen heads Palm Hills Developments, Egypt’s second largest real estate developer. Builds luxury housing and resorts. Impact of Egypt’s revolution still unclear. Cousin who was Mubarak’s housing minister before ouster in cabinet shake-up, is a shareholder in Palm Hills and other Mansour holdings. He now faces allegations of corruption. Youssef is graduate of George Washington University.

11 - Youssef Mansour



$1.8 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 65

Source: Diversified, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Education: MBA, Auburn University; North Carolina State University

Marital Status: Married

Children: 5

World’s Billionaires New to the list

#692 overall

#6 in Egypt

New to the list. Older brother of Mohamed Mansour, Youssef, 65, was instrumental in building the largest supermarket chain in Egypt, Metro. Stores spared looting during uprising; loyal employees stood guard daily to defend from theft and stay open for business. Now situation unclear. Devotes time to family foundation, with mission to eradicate illiteracy and promote education. With wife, enjoys collecting Louis XIV furniture and Renaissance paintings.

12 - Christoffel Wiese



$1.6 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 69

Source: consumer retail, self-made

Country of citizenship: South Africa

Education: BA/BS, University of Stellenbosch; LLB, University of Stellenbosch

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

World’s Billionaires New to the list

#782 overall

#4 in South Africa

The South African makes the cut thanks to his stake in the continent’s biggest retailer, low-price supermarket chain Shoprite. Known as “Christo”, he also owns a stake in discount clothes, shoes and textiles chain Pepkor (slogan: “Making the desirable affordable.”) Restored a South African farm estate and remodeled it into a five-star hotel, Lanzerac Manor & Winery. Replanted the vineyards around it, created a modern cellar and has restarted brewing wine. Also owns wine producer Lourensford Estate and a private game reserve in the Kalahari.

13 - Samih Sawiris



$1.4 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 54

Source: hotels, inherited and growing

Residence: Cairo, Egypt

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Marital Status: Married

World’s Billionaires

#879 overall

#7 in Egypt

Middle son of Orascom founder and billionaire Onsi Sawiris. Samih runs real estate and hotel division which owns and operates hotels in eight countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Oman, UAE and Switzerland. Hotel properties in Egypt may take a hit, as tourists flee Egypt due to unrest. In 2010 partnered with French luxury goods company LVMH to develop two resorts in Oman and Egypt under Cheval Blanc brand. Also building luxury hotels and a golf course on a former Nazi supply route in Andermatt, Switzeland.

14 - Mohamed Al Fayed & family


$1.2 B

Net Worth Calculated March 2011

Age: 78

Source: Retail, self-made

Country of citizenship: Egypt

Marital Status: Married

Children: 5

World’s Billionaires New to the list

#993 overall

#8 in Egypt

Flamboyant Egyptian businessman, father of Dodi Al Fayed who died in a car crash along with Princess Diana in Paris in August 1997. A natural born salesman, began flogging homemade lemonade to his classmates during recess; said to have sold Pepsi in market stalls, worked as a sewing machine salesman. Became an associate of businessman and weapons dealer Adnan Khashoggi, whose sister he eventually married. Became a British resident in 1974. Acquired House of Fraser group in mid 1980s, including the venerable Harrod’s department store, which he revitalized and refurbished. Sold it to Qatar Holding for a reported $2.4 billion in May 2010; now honorary chairman. Owner of the Hôtel Ritz in Paris, the Fulham football club, and a castle in Scotland. Anglophile has yet to be granted British citizenship.

http://www.myweku.com/2011/03/africas-billionaires-on-the-2011-forbes-rich-list/

So, Dangote is wealthier than the blood diamond Oppenheimer people?  And there's a black South African billionaire?  Interesting.

The Sawiris, from Egypt, all look alike. 

Always saw Fayed as the new Adnan Khashogi - "richest man in the world," my foot! 

I don't think they are mostly white unless you are saying Arab = white. Most of those men are from Egypt or north Africa which means they are Arab people. The only whites on that list are the two from South Africa which makes sense since South Africa has the biggest white population on the African continent. Big ups to Adenuga and Dangote. Anybody know of a way I can get a job with Dangote? I am seriously looking.

Arab != white, in a nutshell

This is crazy! Arabs exploiting home & abroad 

This definately has to change!

Dangote is #51 in the world!  

Fu.c.k me 10 times!

WHen did Arabs become White?

All these unexposed Nigerians sha


EVeryone na Oyinbo, even to some Ibos are Oyinbos

norrisman:

Dangote is #51 in the world!  

Fu.c.k me 10 times!

did you think he was #11?

arsenefc:

WHen did Arabs become White?

All these unexposed Nigerians sha


EVeryone na Oyinbo, even to some Ibos are Oyinbos

i don't need to jump on the 'arabs are not white' bandwagon because it appears my point has already be made although if we wanted to be technical they do have SOME European blood but that is another debate for another day oo!

As for the list, there are PLENTY more rich - rotten, stinking, filthy, disgustingly  - rich men in Africa. Be it that they are black, white, Eur-Asian; etc. Those men and women are all rich for obvious reasons and for those same obvious reasons we can see why the color spectrum is more on the lighter side.

Africa has been and is currently being robbed blind! The foundation of the settlements of these white and Arabs in Africa involved African bloodshed. Foreigners (including white and asian south africans - born or immigrants ) have been riding the coat tails of Africans for centuries and to make it even worse they profit off of the African man's sweat. The Africans who showed loyalty to their colonial 'masters' or allied with them were by a certain standard, taken care of and their descendants if not tricked, were and still are rewarded. Which IS why I say Apartheid in south Africa did NOT apply to all blacks.  Neither did/does the Congo crisis (look, this is how we get folks such as Mobutu, Charles Taylor, Edi Amin; etc. They are only called 'Tyrants' when they rebel but they all die(d) or lost/lose their reign RICH men) or any African conflict.

I can guarantee that 98 percent of these men listed ALONE are involved in some grimey stuff. I can guarantee it because when it comes to Africa - and sorry to say - having an "honest living" is really just wishful thinking. One does not have to be directly part of the actual schemes to make contributions to wrong doing. This includes jobs that involve landscaping and obtaining natural resources such as: coal mining, diamond mining, mahogany wood collecting, animal poaching; etc. And please don't get me started on the banking systems!  People die in Africa in order to fatten the pockets of most of these men and others have to sacrifice having basic human rights in order to feed their families. Check their resumes above again and see if you don't see a pattern in how they've earned their money.  (inherited ko - self made ni!  )

This isn't a conspiracy theory to those of you asking "what is this jamo talking about now?", this is reality.

So Jimoh Ibrahim,femi otedola and Bola Tinubu no make d list. naa waao.




send bulksms @www.theafricansms.com for #1k

mixed:

So Jimoh Ibrahim,femi otedola and Bola Tinubu no make d list. naa waao.




send bulksms @www.theafricansms.com for #1k

Instead of BT, y u knw put IBB or Obasanjo,

@ Poster abeg include my name on that list,

Victor T.O

# 1 in Akwa Ibom
# 1 in Africa
# 1 in World,

E bad so?

Oba234:

I don't think they are mostly white unless you are saying Arab = white. Most of those men are from Egypt or north Africa which means they are Arab people. The only whites on that list are the two from South Africa which makes sense since South Africa has the biggest white population on the African continent. Big ups to Adenuga and Dangote. Anybody know of a way I can get a job with Dangote? I am seriously looking.

GBAM!

Are the Arabs pictured Caucasoid or Negroid?  Maybe they're Mongoloid?! 

Tinubu is not a billionaire. 

And they wouldn't be able to get an accounting of Obj or IBB's wallets.  Those two are scary.

No songle ghanaian on the list ?

Well, Ghanaians are really trying.  They may not have billionaires, but I bet they have a growing number of millionaires, plus, more important, a growing and comfortable middle class.  More stable than Naija's own.  Especially if they have a constant flow of electricity.

Nairalanders' if you don't want trouble for yourselves, stopping labelling the Arab billionaires as white and vice versa. There is a big difference in culture and country of origin.

Uhnmmm!

And some people are not capable of 3 square meals a day,

Do people still want to know God better than this.

Subhanalah.

This list is bias. Where are my hustler brother, Ibo, ? I am surprised they are not on the list, they move Lagos and Nigeria economy now.

Under Dangote's profile, there is no education. That tells me something.

Under Dangote's profile, there is no education. That tells me something.

Yes. That you don't need a pali (from oyinbo school) to be a good businessman, just like our forebears before him.

This list is bias. Where are my hustler brother, Ibo, ? I am surprised they are not on the list. . .

They're Thousandnaires nau.  They keep the economy moving, and can provide for their family and extended family.  Very much needed.  Essential to our stability. 

When do Egyptians and Arabs qualify as white?

werepeLeri:

When do Egyptians and Arabs qualify as white?

I tire for people sef.

Its funny how Tinubu and Jimoh Ibrahim didnt make the list


Tinubu pretty much owns everything in Lagos, Osun, and Ogun.

I thank almighty God or their lives.

you dont make sense. There are white african. In their millions. Why do people assume only black people live in africa. You have white and black in the USA. So africa. There are white family who have lived in africa during the days of slavery, the same period micheal Jordan generation came to the USA.

So if you define Micheal Jordan an american , what do you define this white people whose generation have live in african.

i went to a private elementary school where every grade  my classmate were white and black.

arsenefc:

Its funny how Tinubu and Jimoh Ibrahim didnt make the list


Tinubu pretty much owns everything in Lagos, Osun, and Ogun.

not rich enough

r231:

not rich enough

I think Tinubu should be on the rist?


What is (N 3 billion x 48 )/ 150 = $ 1.2 Billion

musiwa.,.:

you dont make sense. There are white african. In their millions. Why do people assume only black people live in africa. You have white and black in the USA. So africa. There are white family who have lived in africa during the days of slavery, the same period micheal Jordan generation came to the USA.

So if you define Micheal Jordan an american , what do you define this white people whose generation have live in african.

i went to a private elementary school where every grade  my classmate were white and black.

Mr Know it all . . . . I now tend not to respond to idi.ots, however i will make an exception with you.

How many black billionaires are there in America?

How many blacks are there in the top 20 richest people in America?

Do you not think there should be more caucasian/white billionaires in Africa than blakcs?

As Arabs are a mongrel race of people with predominantly white genes  you can also include any mixed race person perieved as black in you answers to the above questions.

What're you getting testy for? He was only responding to those who are saying the Arabs are not white. At least that's what I got from his meandering. ::shrug::

musiwa.,.:

you dont make sense. There are white african. In their millions. Why do people assume only black people live in africa. You have white and black in the USA. So africa. There are white family who have lived in africa during the days of slavery, the same period micheal Jordan generation came to the USA.

So if you define Micheal Jordan an american , what do you define this white people whose generation have live in african.

i went to a private elementary school where every grade  my classmate were white and black.

Musiwa Adesegun, stop lying. You went to a public primary school. You didnt go to a private school, your parents couldnt afford it. Okay tell us, who were your classmates in primary school and what are they doing now?

Because the only person who ever attended primary school with Whites on NL is me. My  White classmates are well known all over the world. People like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Clinton, Bush, David Beckham, Justin Beiber, Einstein, Churchill were my class mates in primary school. Musiwa, stop phocking lying. You didnt go to school with White people, you were local.

I often wonder if all the Musiwas and Becomrichs that now spring up are the genuine Becomrich article or "admirers." Hmmm. Dear ol' Jarus once did an imitation to die for.