Nigeria, South Africa & Egypt Dominate Africa’s Billionaire Rankings in 2025

Africa’s billionaire elite continues to reflect the continent’s economic powerhouses, with South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt overwhelmingly dominating the latest Forbes 2025 rankings. The continent now boasts a collective billionaire wealth exceeding $100 billion, marking a milestone in African wealth accumulation.Sahara ReportersAfrican Billionaires Daily NewsForbes AfricaThe Times

South Africa leads with seven billionaires, followed closely by Nigeria and Egypt, each with four. Morocco has three, while Algeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe each contribute one to the continent’s billionaire tally.African Billionaires Daily NewsWikipedia

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 richest Africans according to Forbes:

1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria): $23.9 billion – Africa’s wealthiest for the 14th consecutive year, boosted by his Dangote Petroleum Refinery project.African Billionaires Daily NewsSahara ReportersThe Wall Street Journal
2. Johann Rupert (South Africa): $14 billion – Luxury goods magnate behind Richemont.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes AfricaWikipedia
3. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa): $10.4 billion – Former chair of De Beers and mining tycoon.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
4. Nassef Sawiris (Egypt): $9.6 billion – Leads construction and investment giant OCI.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
5. Mike Adenuga (Nigeria): $6.8 billion – Telecom and oil investor behind Globacom and Conoil.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
6. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria): $5.1 billion – Head of BUA Group with interests in cement and sugar.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
7. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt): $5 billion – Telecom and media pioneer with holdings in Orascom.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
8. Koos Bekker (South Africa): $3.4 billion – Transformed Naspers into a global digital investor.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
9. Mohamed Mansour (Egypt): $3.4 billion – Diversified industrialist.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa
10. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa): $3 billion – Mining tycoon and founder of African Rainbow Minerals.African Billionaires Daily NewsForbes Africa

Africa’s billionaire figures now total over $105 billion, up significantly from $82 billion just a year prior.Sahara Reporters

Oxfam’s analysis highlights that Africa’s four richest individuals; Aliko Dangote, Johann Rupert, Nicky Oppenheimer, and Nassef Sawiris, control more wealth than half the continent’s population combined. This concentration mirrors broader inequality, fueled by current policies and regressive taxation systems.The Times

Their industries; ranging from manufacturing, energy, mining, fashion, and telecom, reflect both economic diversity and strategic resilience, with most billionaires maintaining geographically diversified portfolios across sectors.africahalloffame.org

In summary, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt continue to set the pace in Africa’s wealth hierarchy, showcasing how entrenched economic structures, resource access, and strategic diversification shape the continent’s financial elite. Yet, this wealth concentration also intensifies discussions around economic disparity and social equity in Africa.