Published: October 18, 2026
5 Key Facts
- South Africa has the most billionaires in Africa: seven. The country's seven dollar billionaires are worth a combined $43.0 billion, led by luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert at $16.1 billion.
- Africa has 23 billionaires worth $126.7 billion in total. Forbes' 2026 list, with fortunes measured on March 1, 2026, shows a record 21% jump in combined wealth. That is $20.3 billion added in a single year.
- Only seven African countries have a billionaire. South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco account for 19 of the 23 names. Algeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have one each. Six Egyptian nationals appear on Forbes' 23-name list, but Forbes' country totals count five under Egypt.
- Nigeria's four billionaires are the richest group. Nigeria ranks third by count but first by combined wealth at $47.5 billion, because Aliko Dangote alone is worth $28.5 billion.
- No woman made the 2026 list. All 23 billionaires are men. Fourteen of them, about 61%, built their fortunes themselves rather than inheriting them. Only Tanzania's Mohammed Dewji, at 50, is under 60.
| # | Country | Billionaires | Richest person | Richest net worth (USD) | Combined wealth (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 7 | Johann Rupert & family | $16.1B | $43.0B |
| 2 | Egypt | 5 | Nassef Sawiris | $9.6B | $22.4B |
| 3 | Nigeria | 4 | Aliko Dangote | $28.5B | $47.5B |
| 4 | Morocco | 3 | Othman Benjelloun & family | $1.7B | $4.6B |
| 5 | Algeria | 1 | Issad Rebrab & family | $3.6B | $3.6B |
| 6 | Tanzania | 1 | Mohammed Dewji | $2.1B | $2.1B |
| 7 | Zimbabwe | 1 | Strive Masiyiwa | $2.1B | $2.1B |
The big picture: South Africa leads on count, but Nigeria leads on wealth. Its four billionaires hold $47.5 billion combined, more than any other country's group. Egypt's five come from two families, the Sawirises and the Mansours, making its billionaire wealth the most family-concentrated on the continent. For the full individual ranking, see our richest people in Africa 2026 list, and our ranking of African countries by their single wealthiest individual, where Nigeria leads on the strength of Dangote's fortune.
Selected Details
1. South Africa: the continent's billionaire capital
7 billionaires worth $43.0 billion combined (Forbes, March 1, 2026). No African country comes close on count. The seven span global luxury goods, diamond mining, banking, retail and media. Johann Rupert ($16.1 billion) chairs Richemont, the group behind Cartier, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels. Nicky Oppenheimer ($10.6 billion) built his wealth in diamonds. Capitec Bank founder Michiel Le Roux ($3.8 billion) rode a 57% jump in his bank's shares. South Africa's deep stock market is the reason its fortunes are the most visible, and the most numerous, in Africa.
2. Egypt: five billionaires, two families
5 billionaires worth $22.4 billion combined (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Egypt's entry is a family story. The Sawiris brothers built three fortunes: Nassef ($9.6 billion) in construction and chemicals, Naguib ($5.6 billion) in telecom, and Samih ($1.4 billion) in tourism resorts. The Mansour family built three more: Mohamed ($4 billion), Youssef ($1.8 billion) and Yasseen ($1.4 billion), through the Mansour Group's GM and Caterpillar distribution business. That is six Egyptian nationals on Forbes' 23-name list, but Forbes' country totals count five under Egypt without naming which, so this ranking follows Forbes' stated total of five.
3. Nigeria: fewer billionaires, more money
4 billionaires worth $47.5 billion combined (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Nigeria proves that count is not everything. Aliko Dangote's $28.5 billion alone exceeds the combined billionaire wealth of Egypt and Morocco. His fortune grew by $4.6 billion in a year on a 69% rise in Dangote Cement shares. Abdulsamad Rabiu ($11.2 billion) was the list's biggest gainer, up 120% on BUA Cement's rally. Mike Adenuga ($6.5 billion) built his wealth in telecoms and oil. Femi Otedola ($1.3 billion) returned to the list after selling most of his Geregu Power stake, though his fortune fell by $200 million.
4. Morocco: three billionaires at the low end of the scale
3 billionaires worth $4.6 billion combined (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Morocco's billionaires are the least wealthy group in the top four. Banker Othman Benjelloun ($1.7 billion) leads, followed by businessman Aziz Akhannouch ($1.6 billion). Real estate developer Anas Sefrioui ($1.3 billion) lost $300 million after his Addoha group's shares fell more than 30%. Morocco's three are worth less combined than any single South African in the top four.
5. Algeria: Issad Rebrab stands alone
1 billionaire worth $3.6 billion (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Issad Rebrab built Cevital, a food and beverage conglomerate, into one of Algeria's largest private companies. At $3.6 billion, he is the richest of the three single-billionaire countries, well ahead of Tanzania's and Zimbabwe's $2.1 billion fortunes. Algeria is the only North African country with a lone billionaire, and Rebrab's industrial base makes his wealth one of the most home-grown on the list.
6. Tanzania: Mohammed Dewji, the youngest by a decade
1 billionaire worth $2.1 billion (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Dewji runs MeTL Group, a diversified conglomerate spanning manufacturing, agriculture and logistics. At 50, he is the only billionaire on the list under 60. Every other African billionaire is over 60. His presence makes Tanzania East Africa's only billionaire-producing country, ahead of far larger economies like Kenya and Ethiopia.
7. Zimbabwe: Strive Masiyiwa flies the flag
1 billionaire worth $2.1 billion (Forbes, March 1, 2026). Masiyiwa founded Econet, the telecom group that made him Zimbabwe's first billionaire, and later built the Cassava Technologies business. His fortune ties with Dewji's at $2.1 billion. Tanzania edges Zimbabwe for sixth place by alphabetical order. Both countries show that a single telecoms or industrial champion can put a whole nation on the billionaire map.
8. Zero women on the list
All 23 billionaires are men (Forbes, March 1, 2026). For the second year running, no woman crossed the billion-dollar mark in Africa. Folorunso Alakija of Nigeria, Africa's richest woman at an estimated $900 million, has not been valued as a billionaire by Forbes since January 2020. The gender gap at the very top of African wealth is total. See our richest women in Africa 2026 ranking for the full picture below the billion-dollar line.
9. The self-made majority is getting older
14 of the 23 billionaires, about 61%, are self-made (Forbes, 2026). Most of Africa's billionaires built rather than inherited their fortunes. But the club is aging: everyone except Dewji is over 60. Luxury, mining and cement fortunes built in the 1980s and 1990s still dominate. The pipeline of younger African billionaires is thin, which raises questions about who carries the continent's private wealth into the next generation.
10. A record year for African wealth
Combined wealth rose 21% to $126.7 billion (Forbes, 2026). Africa's billionaires added $20.3 billion in one year, the biggest annual gain on record. Forbes credits rallying equity markets across the continent, steadier regional currencies and record corporate earnings. Only four of the 23 lost wealth, led by Sefrioui's $300 million drop. The 2026 list also passed a milestone: Africa's billionaires first crossed $100 billion in combined wealth in 2025, and they are now nearly $27 billion past it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African country has the most billionaires in 2026?
South Africa, with seven billionaires worth a combined $43.0 billion, according to Forbes' 2026 list. Egypt is second with five, Nigeria third with four, and Morocco fourth with three. Algeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have one billionaire each. No other African country has any.
How many billionaires are there in Africa in 2026?
There are 23 billionaires in Africa in 2026, with a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, according to Forbes. Their fortunes were measured on March 1, 2026, using stock prices and exchange rates on that date. The combined figure is up 21% from 2025.
Who is the richest person in Africa in 2026?
Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, worth $28.5 billion according to Forbes' 2026 list. His fortune grew by $4.6 billion in a year, driven by a 69% rise in Dangote Cement shares. Johann Rupert of South Africa is second at $16.1 billion. See our full richest people ranking for every name.
Are there any female billionaires in Africa in 2026?
No. All 23 billionaires on Forbes' 2026 Africa list are men. Nigeria's Folorunso Alakija, estimated at about $900 million, is Africa's richest woman but has not crossed the billion-dollar mark since Forbes last valued her at $1 billion in January 2020. Our richest women in Africa 2026 ranking covers the leading fortunes below that line.
How does Forbes decide who counts as an African billionaire?
Forbes counts billionaires who live in Africa or do their main business there. It excludes wealthy people of African origin whose business is mostly outside the continent, such as Elon Musk, Ivan Glasenberg, Mo Ibrahim and Clive Calder. Net worths use stock prices and exchange rates from March 1, 2026. Private companies are valued from revenue and profit estimates against comparable listed firms.
Data Sources
- Forbes, "Africa's Billionaires" 2026 list (net worths measured March 1, 2026; published March 2026). The source of every net-worth figure and the country assignments in this ranking. forbes.com
- TBI Africa, "Forbes full list: Dangote leads as Africa's billionaires add $20bn to fortunes" (published March 10, 2026). Full 23-name list with net worths, industries and the $126.7 billion combined figure. tbiafrica.com
- Business Elites Africa, "Top 7 African countries with the highest number of billionaires in 2026" (published March 2026). Country-by-country breakdown and combined-wealth figures. businesselitesafrica.com
- Billionaires.Africa, "The Sawiris brothers: Egypt's $16.6bn dynasty" (published March 16, 2026). Details on the three Sawiris brothers' businesses and combined fortune. billionaires.africa
- News Central TV, "Africa's lowest-ranked billionaires in 2026" (published March 2026). Profiles of Yasseen Mansour, Samih Sawiris, Femi Otedola and Anas Sefrioui. newscentraltv.com
- Telegraph Nigeria, "Full list: Dangote tops Africa's richest as billionaires' fortunes soar by $20bn" (published March 9, 2026). Full list plus Forbes' methodology on residence, exclusions and valuation date. telegraph.ng
- Ghanamma, "Abdul Samad Rabiu climbs to 3rd on Forbes Africa rich list after net worth hits $11.2bn" (published October 12, 2026). Confirms the $11.2 billion figure and the 120% gain. ghanamma.com
Methodology
This ranking counts dollar billionaires by country from Forbes' Africa's Billionaires 2026 list, with net worths measured on March 1, 2026 and published in March 2026. Countries are ordered by billionaire count; single-billionaire countries are ordered by the billionaire's net worth, with Tanzania ahead of Zimbabwe on alphabetical order where both sit at $2.1 billion. Combined wealth per country is the sum of the individual Forbes net worths, rounded to one decimal place. Egypt is counted at five billionaires, following Forbes' own country totals. Six Egyptian nationals appear on Forbes' 23-name list (the three Sawiris brothers and the three Mansours), but Forbes counts five under Egypt without specifying which. The $22.4 billion combined figure is the same under either plausible composition, since the two candidates for the fifth slot, Samih Sawiris and Yasseen Mansour, are both valued at $1.4 billion. Forbes counts billionaires who live in Africa or do their main business on the continent, and excludes figures such as Elon Musk, Ivan Glasenberg, Mo Ibrahim and Clive Calder whose business is mainly elsewhere. All figures are estimates in US dollars, and the data vintage of March 1, 2026 is stated throughout.
