The six richest people in South Africa at the start of 2025 worth $32.3 bn

At the beginning of 2025, South Africa had six billionaires on the global wealth rankings. These individuals have built their fortunes in various industries, including luxury goods, diamonds, media, mining, banking, and retail.

According to Forbes, here are the six richest people in South Africa at the start of 2025 worth $32.3 bn.

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1. Johann Rupert & Family – $13.8 bn

Johann Rupert is the richest person in South Africa. His wealth is primarily from luxury goods. He is the chairman of Richemont, a Swiss-based luxury goods company that owns brands such as Cartier and Montblanc. Rupert also has investments in various sectors, including banking and wine production. His net worth stood at $13.8 bn at the start of 2025, placing him at 170th on the global rankings.

2. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family – $9.5 bn

Nicky Oppenheimer, with a net worth of $9.5 bn, is ranked 278th globally. His wealth comes from diamonds. The Oppenheimer family controlled De Beers for nearly a century before selling their stake to Anglo American in 2012. Oppenheimer continues to invest in conservation and private equity.

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3. Koos Bekker – $2.9 bn

Koos Bekker, ranked 1185th in the world, has a net worth of $2.9 bn. He made his fortune in media and investments. As the former CEO of Naspers, he played a significant role in transforming the company into a global technology and investment giant. Naspers has holdings in various companies, including Tencent, through its subsidiary Prosus.

4. Patrice Motsepe – $2.7 bn

Patrice Motsepe is a mining magnate with a net worth of $2.7 bn. Ranked 1257th globally, he is the founder of African Rainbow Minerals, a company with interests in gold, platinum, and other minerals. Motsepe has expanded his business ventures beyond mining and is also the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

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5. Michiel Le Roux – $1.8 bn

Michiel Le Roux, ranked 1872nd in the world, has a net worth of $1.8 bn. His wealth comes from banking. He founded Capitec Bank in 2001, focusing on providing accessible financial services to South Africans. The bank has grown to become one of the country’s leading financial institutions.

6. Christoffel Wiese – $1.6 bn

Christoffel Wiese, with a net worth of $1.6 bn, is ranked 2019th globally. His fortune comes from retail. He built his wealth through investments in major retail chains, including Shoprite, Africa’s largest supermarket group. Despite financial challenges in recent years, Wiese remains one of South Africa’s wealthiest individuals.