It’s relatively ‘easy’ to make money – when you have money. Compound interest really is the eighth wonder of the world!
The rich get richer while the poor stay 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!
How they made their billions
According to Forbes’ real-time tracking of billionaires, Johann Rupert and his family are the richest in South Africa, with a net worth of $12.7 billion.
The Ruperts are followed by diamond magnateNicky Oppenheimer, who boasts a net worth of $10.4 billion.
They are followed by Koos Bekker, Patrice Motsepe, Michiel Le Roux, Christo Wiese and Jannie Mouton.
South Africa’s seven-dollar billionaires all made their money in different ways – from luxury goods, diamonds, mining, media, banking and retail.
In terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with a reported $363.7 billion.
Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 17 April 2025.
Rank
Name
Last week
This week
Source
183
Johann Rupert & family
$12.8bn
$12.7bn
Luxury goods
245
Nicky Oppenheimer & family
$10.4bn
$10.4bn
Diamonds
1 145
Koos Bekker
$3.2bn
$3.2bn
Media, investments
1 223
Patrice Motsepe
$2.9bn
$3bn
Mining
1 671
Michiel Le Roux
$2.1bn
$2.1bn
Banking
2 236
Christo Wiese
$1.5bn
$1.5bn
Financial services
2 246
Jannie Mouton & family
$1.5bn
$1.5bn
Retail
TOTAL
$34.4bn
$34.4bn
How far are YOU off from joining this list of SA dollar billionaires … ?
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