Top 10 Sectors with the Highest Billionaires in Africa 2025

In Summary

• Currently, Africa has 22 billionaires with a combined net worth of $105 billion, up from $82.4 billion and 20 billionaires in 2024. 
• Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, with a net worth of $23.9 billion, leads the list for the 14th consecutive year. 
• Johann Rupert ($14 billion), Nicky Oppenheimer ($10.4 billion), Mike Adenuga ($6.8 billion) are other notable billionaires in Africa.

Deep dive!!

The African billionaire landscape has continued to evolve, reflecting the continent’s dynamic economic transformation and the emergence of new growth frontiers. Despite global economic uncertainties, Africa has continued to witness a significant surge in wealth creation, fueled by entrepreneurship, industrial expansion, and increased intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Billionaires across the continent have made their fortunes in diverse sectors—from traditional industries like mining and construction to rapidly growing fields such as technology, telecommunications, and media. According to Forbes, the continent currently boasts 22 billionaires with a combined net worth of $105 billion, up from $82.4 billion and 20 billionaires in 2024. With a net worth of $23.9 billion, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote leads the list of African superpowers for the 14th consecutive year. 

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Top 10 Sectors That Have Produced the Most Billionaires in Africa in 2025, highlighting the economic significance of each industry. We explore the backgrounds, net worth, and entrepreneurial journeys of the continent’s wealthiest individuals, showcasing how innovation, resilience, and strategic diversification have positioned them at the helm of Africa’s wealth hierarchy. As you’ll discover, these sectors are not only engines of wealth but also crucial drivers of job creation, infrastructure development, and regional economic stability.

In 2025, these ten sectors stand out for producing the most billionaires in Africa, with individuals not only building empires but also shaping economies. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor, or simply curious about Africa’s economic giants, this breakdown offers invaluable insights into the industries that are shaping the future of wealth on the continent; here is a countdown from number ten to number one.

Here are the Top 10 Sectors with the Highest Number of Billionaires in Africa in 2025. Check them out!

10. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare – 1 Billionaire

• Mohammed Dewji (Tanzania): Through the MeTL Group, Dewji has expanded into pharmaceuticals and healthcare, contributing to his billionaire status in 2025. With a net worth of 2.2 billion USD, Mohammed Dewji’s journey from a family-run trading business to leading one of East Africa’s largest conglomerates, MeTL Group, is a story of vision and grit. While known for textiles and commodities, Dewji has increasingly invested in healthcare, recognizing its critical role in Africa’s development. By supplying affordable pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across Tanzania and neighboring countries, Dewji is not just building wealth — he’s improving access to life-saving resources in underserved communities. His work bridges business success with social impact, a model of modern African capitalism.

9. Media & Entertainment – 1 Billionaire

• Koos Bekker (South Africa): As the Chairman of Naspers, Bekker transformed the media group into a global digital powerhouse, significantly influencing Africa's content ecosystem. A quiet but transformative force in African media, Koos Bekker turned Naspers from a traditional print business into a global digital powerhouse, backing ventures like Tencent in China. In Africa, his vision revolutionized TV and digital consumption through DSTV and MultiChoice, giving millions of Africans access to local and global entertainment. Bekker’s success shows how African-born ideas can reshape global media — and how content, when made accessible and inclusive, becomes a cultural connector across the continent. Through these, he has built a robust portfolio with a net worth of 3.4 billion USD.

8. Food & Agriculture – 1 Billionaire

• Issad Rebrab (Algeria): Issad Rebrab is the owner of Cevital, which operates one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, in addition to major food processing operations. Rebrab rose from humble beginnings to lead Cevital, a company that now owns one of the world’s largest sugar refineries. His agricultural and food processing businesses have created thousands of jobs and helped reduce North Africa’s dependence on imported food. Rebrab proves that agro-industrialization in Africa isn’t just possible — it’s profitable and essential for sovereignty and food security. His success is a beacon for a continent that feeds the world but often struggles to feed itself. Issad currently has a net worth of 3 billion USD.

7. Energy & Utilities – 2 Billionaires

• Femi Otedola (Nigeria): As the Chairman of Geregu Power, Otedola has diversified into electricity and energy infrastructure. From oil tycoon to power sector investor, Femi Otedola’s career reflects Nigeria’s evolving energy narrative. After transforming Forte Oil into a household name, he shifted to electricity, investing in Geregu Power. With a net worth of 1.3 billion USD, his focus now lies in solving Nigeria’s chronic energy challenges. Otedola’s story is one of reinvention — using wealth not just for expansion, but to tackle infrastructure gaps that affect millions.
• Aziz Akhannouch (Morocco): Through Akwa Group, Akhannouch has built a vast empire with a net worth of 1.6 billion USD in petroleum and chemicals. Both a businessman and Morocco’s Prime Minister, Akhannouch embodies the fusion of public service and private enterprise. His Akwa Group spans fuel, gas, and chemicals — vital to Morocco’s industrial growth. Beyond wealth, he’s known for investing in rural development and sustainable energy. His leadership shows how business success can be aligned with national development goals.

6. Retail & Consumer Goods – 2 Billionaires

• Johann Rupert (South Africa): Johann Rupert is the Chair of Richemont, the company behind luxury brands like Cartier and Montblanc. With a current net worth of 13.4 billion USD, Rupert turned his family’s legacy into a global luxury empire, Helming Richemont. While his wealth is rooted in high-end retail, he remains active in conservation and social causes in South Africa. Rupert’s story is a reminder that luxury and legacy can coexist with a sense of responsibility to one's roots.
• Christoffel Wiese (South Africa): Wiese is the former majority owner of Shoprite and Pepkor, and remains a giant in retail with a net worth of 1.6 billion USD. Christoffel Wiese is the self-made titan behind Africa’s largest supermarket chain, Shoprite. From rural stores to cross-continental retail presence, Wiese built a brand that serves everyday Africans. His ability to scale while remaining accessible proves that fortune can be built by understanding the ordinary consumer's needs.

5. Diversified Holdings – 3 Billionaires

• Mohamed Mansour (Egypt): Mohamed Mansour oversees a conglomerate spanning automotive, finance, and retail - taking his net worth to 3.4 billion USD. A former transport minister turned tycoon, Mohamed Mansour leads a multinational empire that spans automotive to retail. With a deep commitment to education and youth development, his work demonstrates that prosperity can come from reinvesting in human capital. He champions business as a catalyst for national growth.
• Youssef Mansour (Egypt): Youseef Mansour heads the consumer goods division of the Mansour Group. Focused on consumer goods and retail, Youssef has helped bring international brands closer to the Egyptian middle class. His work in logistics and distribution has supported economic modernization — showing how backend infrastructure quietly fuels front-end success. His current net worth sits at 1.4 billion USD.
• Yasseen Mansour (Egypt): Yasseen Mansour, the brother of Youssef Mansour and Mohamed Mansour has a net worth of 1.2 billion USD and focuses on logistics and other diversified operations within the family empire. Known for steering the real estate and FMCG arms of Mansour Group, Yasseen’s influence is seen in Egypt’s evolving urban and consumer landscape. His approach reflects how family dynasties can adapt to changing times and modern markets.

4. Finance & Investments – 3 Billionaires

• Koos Bekker (South Africa): With a portfolio of 3.4 billion USD, Bekker has a strong influence in financial technology through Naspers' investments. His investments have shaped fintech and tech platforms across Africa and represent the new breed of African investors: globally savvy, locally rooted, and digitally driven.
• Michiel Le Roux (South Africa): As the founder of Capitec Bank, serving millions of South Africans, Michiel Le Roux has a portfolio of 2.4 billion USD. Le Roux founded Capitec Bank with a radical vision — to make banking simple and accessible to South Africa’s underserved population. By focusing on affordability and transparency, he built trust in communities long excluded from financial systems. His story is one of democratizing wealth.
• Othman Benjelloun (Morocco): Othman Benjelloun is the CEO of BMCE Bank, with operations across over 20 African countries. Benjelloun turned BMCE Bank into a pan-African institution, supporting SMEs and cross-border trade. With interests in insurance and finance, his work is central to Morocco’s emergence as a regional economic hub. He is a pioneer in African financial integration with a net worth of 1.8 billion USD.

3. Mining & Natural Resources – 3 Billionaires

• Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa): He is the former chairman of De Beers, but now focuses his 10.4 billion USD portfolio on private equity and conservation. Heir to the De Beers diamond legacy, Oppenheimer sold his stake and refocused on conservation and African enterprise. His journey reflects a shift from extraction to empowerment, supporting young African entrepreneurs and protecting the continent’s natural heritage.
• Patrice Motsepe (South Africa): Motsepe is the owner of African Rainbow Minerals, one of Africa’s largest mining firms. The first Black African on the Forbes billionaire list, Motsepe built African Rainbow Minerals with an eye for sustainability and transformation. His philanthropy and investments in clean energy show a forward-thinking commitment to inclusive growth. His current portfolio sits at 3.1 billion USD.
• Issad Rebrab (Algeria): Often celebrated for his business diversity with deep roots in industrial operations, Rebrab’s industrial operations span across the steel and glass industry, anchoring Algeria’s non-oil industrial future. He has proven that even in resource-rich countries, value addition is the real engine of long-term wealth. He currently has a portfolio of 3 billion USD.

2. Telecommunications & Technology – 3 Billionaires

• Mike Adenuga (Nigeria): Founder of Globacom, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom network, Adenuga built Globacom from the ground up, becoming a telecom giant in Nigeria and beyond. Known for his business acumen and quiet demeanor, he’s an example of how infrastructure — digital or physical — creates opportunities in new economies. Adenuga currently has a net worth of 6.1 billion USD.
• Naguib Sawiris (Egypt): After building and selling Orascom Telecom, Sawiris diversified his 5 billion USD portfolio into tech and media. Over the years, he has turned telecoms into a launchpad for global investments. He focuses his interests in media and tech, betting on innovation. Sawiris represents how African entrepreneurs can compete — and win — on the global stage.
• Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe): Masiyiwa is the founder of Econet Wireless, with operations across multiple African countries. A self-made entrepreneur, Masiyiwa built Econet through determination and resilience, often battling political and economic headwinds. Today, he's not only a telecom mogul but a leading voice on digital inclusion and social impact in Africa with a net worth of 1.2 billion USD.

1. Manufacturing & Construction – 4 Billionaires

• Aliko Dangote (Nigeria): As Africa's richest man for the past 14 years, Dangote has interests in cement, sugar, flour, and oil refining. He started by trading cement and sugar, and now owns the continent’s largest industrial empire with a net worth of 23.3 billion USD. Dangote’s investments have created entire ecosystems of jobs and supply chains. His 20 billion USD refinery is a national game-changer, aimed at ending Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.
• Nassef Sawiris (Egypt): Nassef Sawaris controls Orascom Construction and has significant holdings in Adidas. Through Orascom Construction and stakes in global brands, Sawiris is Egypt’s most internationally recognized businessman with a net worth of 9.2 billion USD. His strategic investments blend local roots with global influence — a true continental ambassador in global boardrooms.
• Abdul Samad Rabiu (Nigeria): As the Chairman of BUA Group, Rabiu is a major player in the cement and sugar industry with a net worth of 4.3 billion USD. Rabiu’s BUA Group is making cement and sugar more accessible across West Africa. His growth strategy is grounded in domestic value chains and regional expansion — showing how industrial growth can be both inclusive and ambitious.
• Anas Sefrioui (Morocco): As the CEO of Addoha Group, Sefrioui specializes in affordable housing and construction. With a net worth of 1.6 billion USD, Sefrioui’s Addoha Group is transforming housing and infrastructure for Morocco’s middle and lower-income citizens. His real estate projects blend affordability with scale — proving that construction can uplift lives, not just build fortunes.

Conclusion

The billionaire landscape in Africa is a testament to the continent’s vast economic potential, resource endowment, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. As this list demonstrates, wealth creation in Africa spans across both traditional and emerging sectors. From manufacturing and construction to telecommunications, finance, energy, and even entertainment, African billionaires have leveraged both local opportunities and global partnerships to build thriving business empires.

While legacy sectors like natural resources, real estate, and agriculture continue to underpin much of Africa’s traditional wealth, the rise of billionaires in technology, diversified holdings, and media reflects a shift toward innovation, digitization, and value-added industries. Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco dominate this list, showcasing the importance of political stability, infrastructure, and access to capital in enabling entrepreneurial success.

Importantly, these billionaires are more than just wealthy individuals—they are agents of economic development. Their companies employ millions, fund social infrastructure, and stimulate industrial growth across borders. As Africa moves deeper into the digital age and regional integration strengthens, these sectors—and the billionaires behind them—will continue to shape the continent's economic narrative.