Forbes Publishes List of 19 Wealthiest People in Africa

Forbes Africa has published its list of the wealthiest persons in Africa for 2023.

No Kenyan was named in the latest list, which features 19 billionaires from seven countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Morocco.

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote retained his position as Africa’s wealthiest man for the 12th consecutive year despite a $400m drop in his fortune to $13.5 billion.

He is followed by South Africans Nicky Oppenheimer and Johann Rupert whose net worth are $8 billion and $7.2 billion respectively.

Nigerian Mike Adenuga, the owner of telecom giant Globacom and oil company Conoil Producing, takes fourth place with a net worth of $6.3 billion.

Nassef Sawiris of Egypt, who owns a stake in Adidas and runs OCI, is the sixth richest African with a net worth of $6 billion.

Forbes says the continent’s 19 billionaires are worth an estimated $81.8 billion, a decline from the $84.9 billion held by the continent’s 18 billionaires a year ago.

The drop follows a global market downturn in 2022 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors.

Here is the full list;

1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – $13.5 billion

2. Johann Rupert (South Africa) – $10.7 billion

3. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa) – $8.4 billion

4. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $7.6 billion

5. Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – $7.2 billion

6. Mike Adenuga (Nigeria) – $5.6 billion

7. Issad Rebrab (Algeria) – $4.6 billion

8. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt) – $3.3 billion

9. Mohamed Mansour (Egypt) – $3 billion

10. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – $2 billion