The highly anticipated Forbes list, ‘Africa’s 50 Richest’ is out and once again proves that Africans are raking in some serious money.
The 50 richest Africans displayed on the list have a combined net worth of 110.7 billion US dollars, 6.7 per cent higher than last year. To make the list, individuals needed to have a minimum net worth of 510 million US dollars.
Taking the top spot, for the fourth year in a row, is cement tycoon Aliko Dangote. The Nigerian self-made billionaire is worth an estimated 21.6 billion US dollars.
Forbes Africa’s managing editor Chris Bishop says Dangote plans to give it all away.
“He’s given away millions to his foundation already and he told me, when I interviewed him two years ago, that was him aim. He said he wants to give away virtually everything.”
Coming in at number two is Johann Rupert who made his 7.3 billion US dollar fortune from the luxury goods industry. Nicky Oppenheimer rounds up the top three with 6.8 billion US dollars. Nassef Sawiris falls in at number four with 6.1 billion US dollars. And rounding up the top five is Christoffel Wiese, who is worth 5.4 billion US dollars.
Seven people have dropped off Africa’s rich list while six new entries join. Bishop says one of the biggest surprises was Tony Elumelu who is ranked at number 26 with a net worth of 1 billion US dollars.
“He’s a billionaire now. We always knew he was rich, but apparently according to the American union he has declared a lot of properties for the first time now that he owns,” said Bishop.
Isabel dos Santos, worth 3.7 billion US dollars, and Folorunsho Alakija, worth 2.5 billion US dollars, are the only two women to make the cut. Bishop says it may be a long time until we see more women on the list.
“I think that women still have a long way to go in terms of fighting the good fight, getting their share and being in control of wealth. You’ll find a lot of women in very powerful jobs but getting to the point where you own something rather than working there is another step,” he said.
Source : cnbcafrica
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