THE SECTORS WHERE AFRICAN BILLIONAIRES ARE MAKING THEIR MONEY

JOHANNESBURG. – Here are the sectors where Africa’s richest people are making their money.

10. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare – 1 Billionaire

Mohammed Dewji (Tanzania): Through the MeTL Group, Dewji has expanded into pharmaceuticals and healthcare, contributing to his billionaire status in 2025. With a net worth of US$2.2 billion USD, Mohammed Dewji’s journey from a family-run trading business to leading one of East Africa’s largest conglomerates, MeTL Group, is a story of vision and grit.

9. Media & Entertainment – 1 Billionaire

Koos Bekker (South Africa): As the Chairman of Naspers, Bekker transformed the media group into a global digital powerhouse, significantly influencing Africa’s content ecosystem. He has built a robust portfolio with a net worth of US$3,4 billion.

8. Food & Agriculture – 1 Billionaire

Issad Rebrab (Algeria): Issad Rebrab is the owner of Cevital, which operates one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, in addition to major food processing operations. Rebrab owns one of the world’s largest sugar refineries. He has a net worth of US$3 billion.

7. Energy & Utilities –

2 Billionaires

Femi Otedola (Nigeria): As the Chairman of Geregu Power, Otedola has diversified into electricity and energy infrastructure. He has a net worth of US$1.3 billion.

Aziz Akhannouch (Morocco): Through Akwa Group, Akhannouch has built a vast empire with a net worth of US$1.6 billion in petroleum and chemicals.

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6. Retail & Consumer Goods – 2 Billionaires

Johann Rupert (South Africa): Johann Rupert is the Chair of Richemont, the company behind luxury brands like Cartier and Montblanc. With a current net worth of US13.4 billion.

Christoffel Wiese (South Africa): Wiese is the former majority owner of Shoprite and Pepkor, and remains a giant in retail with a net worth of US1.6 billion USD.

5. Diversified Holdings –

3 Billionaires

Mohamed Mansour (Egypt): Mohamed Mansour oversees a conglomerate spanning automotive, finance, and retail − taking his net worth to US$3.4 billion.

Youssef Mansour (Egypt): Youseef Mansour heads the consumer goods division of the Mansour Group. Focused on consumer goods and retail, Youssef has a net worth of US$1.4 billion.

Yasseen Mansour (Egypt): Yasseen Mansour, the brother of Youssef Mansour and Mohamed Mansour has a net worth of US$1.2 billion and focuses on logistics and other diversified operations within the family empire.

4. Finance & Investments –

3 Billionaires

Koos Bekker (South Africa): With a portfolio of US$3.4 billion, Bekker has a strong influence in financial technology through Naspers’ investments.

Michiel Le Roux (South Africa): As the founder of Capitec Bank, serving millions of South Africans, Michiel Le Roux has a portfolio of US$2.4 billion.

Othman Benjelloun (Morocco): Othman Benjelloun is the CEO of BMCE Bank, with operations across over 20 African countries and has a net worth of US$1.8 billion.

3. Mining & Natural Resources –

3 Billionaires

Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa): He is the former chairman of De Beers, but now focuses his US$10.4 billion portfolio on private equity and conservation.

Patrice Motsepe (South Africa): Motsepe is the owner of African Rainbow Minerals, one of Africa’s largest mining firms and has a current portfolio which sits at US$3.1 billion.

Issad Rebrab (Algeria): Often celebrated for his business diversity with deep roots in industrial operations, Rebrab’s industrial operations span across the steel and glass industry and currently has a portfolio of US$3 billion.

2. Telecommunications & Technology – 3 Billionaires

Mike Adenuga (Nigeria): Founder of Globacom, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom network, Adenuga built Globacom from the ground up, becoming a telecom giant in Nigeria and currently has a net worth of US$6.1 billion.

Naguib Sawiris (Egypt): After building and selling Orascom Telecom, Sawiris diversified his US$5 billion portfolio into tech and media.

Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe): Masiyiwa is the founder of Econet Wireless, with operations across multiple African countries. He has a net worth of US$1.2 billion.

1. Manufacturing & Construction –

4 Billionaires

Aliko Dangote (Nigeria): As Africa’s richest man for the past 14 years, Dangote has interests in cement, sugar, flour, and oil refining and has a net worth of US$23.3 billion.

Nassef Sawiris (Egypt): Nassef Sawaris controls Orascom Construction and he has a networth of US$9,2bollion.

Abdul Samad Rabiu (Nigeria): As the Chairman of BUA Group, has a net worth of US$4.3 billion.

Anas Sefrioui (Morocco): As the CEO of Addoha Group, Sefrioui has a net worth of US$1.6 billion. − The African Exponent