Top 5 African billionaires with the highest net-worth change in 2025 so far
Midway through 2025, the fortunes of African billionaires have shifted in ways that reflect a great deal about the continent's economic orientation, global significance, and private sector innovation.
Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 richest African billionaires mid-way into 2025.
This list is courtesy of Forbes.
Johann Rupert ranks number 1 on the list.
While some African billionaires saw their portfolios increase by billions, others faced stagnation or declines.
These variations are more than simply financial; they are dynamic indications of Africa's evolving commercial scene, which is fascinating for a variety of reasons.
The considerable gains achieved by billionaires such as Nigeria's Aliko Dangote, whose net worth increased by over $10 billion in approximately a year following the operational launch of his oil refinery, demonstrate how industrial infrastructure is changing wealth throughout the continent.
Similarly, high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in Egypt and South Africa have seen their wealth transfer due to strong results in building, chemicals, luxury goods, and mining.
These industries, albeit conventional, are demonstrating their ability to create remarkable value when combined with innovation and sound strategy.
Some African countries still retain some of the world's most erratic economies, but they sometimes also offer several fiscal opportunities.
The billionaires who flourish are those who can predict or adapt promptly to change. This volatility is what makes tracking these wealth transfers so fascinating; each change in net worth tells a story about risk, resilience, and reward.
Behind the increases in net worth of Africa's HNWI are the result of careful planning, calculated risk-taking, timing, and, sometimes, chance.
Unlike static lists of wealthy individuals, year-to-date swings make these billionaires feel like active players in an ongoing African economic narrative.
From Dangote's gamble on self-sufficiency to Oppenheimer's diverse investment bets, these are dynamic tales worth following, not just for the money, but also for what they reveal about African ambition and promise.
With that said, here are the African billionaires with the most dramatic change in fortune mid-way into the year, as per data from Bloomberg's Billionaire Index.
Top 5 African billionaires with the highest net-worth change in mid-2025
Rank Name Current networth Net-worth at the start of the year Net-worth change
1. Johann Rupert $16.4 billion $13.7 billion +2.7 billion
2. Natie Kirsh $10.4 billion $9.33 billion +$1.07 billion
3. Nassef Sawiris $9.41 billion $8.69 billion +720 million
4. Nicky Oppenheimer $12.0 billion $11.5 billion +$500 million
5 Aliko Dangote $27.7 billion $28.1 billion -$400 million
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tech Founder Pledges to Leave $17 Billion Fortune to His 106 Children
Originally appeared on E! Online Pavel Durov is leaving a special message in his family group chat. The Telegram founder recently revealed that he's dividing his massive fortune—an estimated $17.1 billion, per Forbes—between all 106 of his children. 'I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations,' Durov, 40, told French outlet Le Point in an interview published June 19. 'They are all my children and will all have the same rights. I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death.' Indeed, the Russian tech mogul explained that he's the 'official father' of six children from three different partners. Meanwhile, he decided to 'help a friend' by becoming a sperm donor nearly 15 years ago, resulting in him fathering 100 kids across 12 countries. More from E! Online What Happened to Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Chandi Dayle? Americas Sweethearts Bahamas Scandal Explained Kourtney Kardashian Bares Her Bottom in Cheeky Black Dress Alec Baldwin's Wife Hilaria Baldwin Claps Back at Comments on Her Weight And while he wants to spread his wealth equally, his children will have to wait a while for their share. In fact, Durov—who launched Telegram, a cloud-based messaging app, alongside his brother Nikolai Durov in 2013—noted his offspring will not have access to their inheritances until '30 years' after the day of his interview with the French publication. 'I want them to live like normal people,' he continued, 'to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account.' This revelation comes months after the billionaire was arrested and charged in France with enabling illegal crimes, ranging from child sex abuse material and drug trafficking, to occur on his platform last August. While Durov is out on bail, he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the New York Times. As for his growing fortune, Durov isn't the only billionaire that's been open about passing down assets to their next of kin. In fact, Bill Gates—who shares kids Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22, with ex-wife Melinda French Gates—revealed he's leaving 'less than one percent' of his reported $116 billion fortune to his family, which amounts to over $1 billion. 'It's not a dynasty,' he explained on Raj Shamani's Figuring Out podcast in March, noting that giving his children a larger portion 'wouldn't be a favor to them.' 'I'm not asking them to run Microsoft. I want to give them a chance to have their own earnings and success, be significant and not overshadowed by the incredible luck and good fortune I had.' Keep reading to see more celebrities who have a billion dollar net worth… 14. Taylor Swift13. Dick Wolf12. Magic Johnson11. LeBron James10. Tiger Woods9. Rihanna8. Tyler Perry7. Peter Jackson6. Kim Kardashian5. Jay-Z4. Oprah Winfrey3. Michael Jordan2. Steven Spielberg1. George Lucas For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
As Amazon Prime Account Hacks Surge — Here's What You Need To Do
Beware of these Amazon Prime scams. AFP via Getty Images Update, June 20, 2025: This story, originally published on June 19, has been updated to include more advice from Amazon, including the best contact methods if you are concerned someone might be trying to access your Prime account, as well as details of an anti-scam web browser you might like to try when shopping online. If there's one truism above all others when it comes to cybercriminal hackers, it has to be that they follow the money and the crowd. That is why we see so many attacks that target the likes of Gmail accounts, the Microsoft Windows operating system and, most recently, Facebook passwords. Amazon, as you might expect given its status in the world of online retail, is not immune to this attention. With the retail giant announcing that this year's Prime Day sales will span four days in July, hackers will already be making their nefarious plans. The badness is that last year, Prime Day attacks increased by 80% over the year before. The good news is that Amazon is ready. Here's what you need to know. Forbes 16 Billion Apple, Facebook, Google And Other Passwords Leaked — Act Now By Davey Winder You couldn't make this up. As I was writing this very article, I received a call from a scammer impersonating Amazon, asking if I had ordered an iPhone 13. Yes, seriously. Precisely the kind of threat that Amazon is warning about, at precisely the moment that I write about hackers making their plans for this year. Obviously, I didn't fall for it, and neither will you if you take the advice from Amazon that follows shortly. As Amazon has now confirmed that Prime Day 2025 will take place July 8 through July 11, you can expect to be on the end of such calls, text messages and emails yourself. An Amazon spokesperson told me that 'as deals drop, consumers may also drop their guards, making them more susceptible to scams.' And Amazon has the numbers to make the hairs on your back stand up to support this: 'In the weeks surrounding Prime Day in 2024,' the spokesperson said, 'Amazon customers reported an 80% increase in all impersonation scams that claimed there was an issue with their account.' Unsurprisingly, as in my case, the top threat tactics included claiming to be from Amazon support and warning that there was a problem with your order, account, or payment. 'Impersonation scams via phone calls,' Amazon said, 'more than doubled during Prime Day' last year. Ensure your Amazon account is protected by two-step verification, also known as two-factor ... More authenticion or 2FA. Amazon Forbes Use These Secret Gmail Addresses To Prevent Hack Attacks — Here's How By Davey Winder Amazon Advice For Customers To Prevent Account Scam Attacks Amazon has shared the following advice for shoppers, both before and during the Prime Day 2025 sales, on how to stay safe from brand impersonation hackers: Never share your Amazon credentials with any third-party tools, websites or, well, anyone. They don't need to know. Only use tools and sites that support the secure Login With Amazon authentication process. Verify purchases directly on Amazon, do not respond to a message, click on a link or give account information over the phone. Never place an order by email with a seller. Amazon will only ever ask for payment in its app or on the website, and never by email or phone. Do not be fooled by scammers creating a sense of false urgency. Count to ten and apply the advice at the top of the list. Amazon will never ask you to purchase a gift card. Keep your operating system and the Amazon app updated to the latest version to ensure the best security protections are in place. Ensure your Amazon account is protected by two-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication or 2FA Ensure your Amazon account is protected by two-step verification, also known as two-factor ... More authentication or 2FA. Amazon You might also want to look at the browser that you use to access Amazon, especially as the privacy-centric DuckDuckGo has just updated its offering specifically with anti-scam protections that include online shopping threats. Available and active as soon as you fire up the web browser, DuckDuckGo has a built-in Scam Blocker function that protects against phishing sites and malware. Of particular interest, and new in this latest update, is that it now also guards against 'sham e-commerce sites, fake cryptocurrency exchanges, scareware that falsely claims your device has a virus, and other sites known to advertise fake products or services,' according to Peter Dolanjski from DuckDuckGo. Find out more about how Amazon protects customers from scams and the best way to report an incident here. Forbes FBI Warns Smartphone Users — Do Not Click On SMS Links By Davey Winder
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Heineken loses operational control in Congo's conflict zones after facility seizures
Heineken has withdrawn its staff and lost operational control of its facilities in the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dutch brewer announced on Friday. Earlier in February, the company suspended operations in three cities after some of its breweries were damaged and depots looted during clashes between government troops and rebel forces. Stock, raw materials and equipment were stolen and there was 'significant damage' to the brewery control room, Heineken said in a statement. 'Assessing the full extent of the damage will take time,' it said at the time. A dept 120km further south in Uvira has also been looted by 'military and militia groups. We are greatly relieved that no Bralima colleagues or their families were harmed,' the Amstel brewer added. At the time, Heineken, which operates four breweries in the DRC producing Heineken, Primus, Amstel, and other popular brands, said it would keep the affected sites closed until conditions were safe enough to resume operations. However, in an updated statement, the company said the security situation has worsened, with armed groups now controlling its facilities in Bukavu and Goma, eastern Congo's two largest cities, and surrounding areas, according to Reuters. "The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present, and as of June 12, 2025, we have lost operational control," 'Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees. We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and have continued to support them financially,' Heineken said. The brewer's Congolese subsidiary, Bralima, continues to operate in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict. Heineken added that it is closely monitoring the situation. The recent developments in eastern DRC could deal a significant blow to Heineken, whose operations in the region were already under pressure. Social unrest has also complicated the company's activities in other African markets such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique. In 2024, Heineken reported €4.13 billion ($4.3 billion) in revenue from Africa and the Middle East, one of its four core geographic segments, a 2.3% decline from the previous year. Beer sales in the region fell to 29.5 million hectolitres, down from 34.8 million in 2023.
