12-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
South Africa's 7 dollar billionaires just got a lot RICHER
It's comparatively 'easy' to make money – when you have money. Compound interest really is the eighth wonder of the world!
As they say, the rich get richer, while the poor stay, well, poor.
Money makes money – and these seven South Africans have made a lot of it over the years.
And by a lot, we mean a LOT !
According to Forbes' real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $14.1 billion.
The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.5 billion.
They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Jannie Mouton and Christo Wiese.
South Africa's seven dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail.
Rupert added a whopping $700 million (R12.8 billion) to his net worth in the last week alone, while Koos Bekker and Michiel Le Roux each added $100 million (R1.83 billion).
In terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $395.6 billion.
Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 12 May 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 167 Johann Rupert & family $13.4bn $14.1bn Luxury goods 260 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.5bn $10.5bn Diamonds 1 071 Koos Bekker $3.4bn $3.5bn Media, investments 1 207 Patrice Motsepe $3.1bn $3.1bn Mining 1 496 Michiel Le Roux $2.4bn $2.5bn Banking 2 048 Jannie Mouton & family $1.7bn $1.7bn Retail 2 160 Christo Wiese $1.6bn $1.6bn Financial services TOTAL $36.1bn $37bn
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