Meet South Africa’s Billionaire Club: Who’s Winning Big in 2025

Big Money Moves: South Africa’s Billionaire Elite in 2025

South Africa’s billionaire circle is starting 2025 on a high note, with the country’s wealthiest adding billions to their fortunes over the past year. According to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings, the six South Africans on the list grew their collective net worth by nearly a  staggering R109 billion in 2024.

But that’s just a slice of the pie — together, they’re now worth over R583 billion. From luxury empires to mining, retail, and fintech, these are the people shaping fortunes and futures, both locally and globally and South Africans couldn’t be prouder.

Rupert Reigns Supreme

Johann Rupert continues to lead the pack as the richest South African and the second richest person on the continent. His 2025 net worth? An eyewatering $12.8 billion (R239.7 billion).

Rupert’s crown jewel is Richemont, the Swiss-based luxury group behind brands like Cartier, Montblanc, and Dunhill. He holds just over 10% ownership but controls 51% of the voting power — a grip that keeps him firmly in the driver’s seat. Richemont’s market cap currently sits at an whopping R17.58 trillion.

He also chairs Remgro, based in Stellenbosch, which has stakes in everything from healthcare to sports and media.

His success has pushed him up 23 places in the global rankings, making him the only South African in the world’s top 200 richest people this year ranking 165 on the list.

Oppenheimer Still Shines, Motsepe Gains Modestly

Former De Beers boss Nicky Oppenheimer is comfortably seated in the global top 300, rising 12 spots after a $1.2 billion increase in his net worth. Though no longer directly involved in diamonds, Oppenheimer continues to invest through his family office, focused on conservation and private equity.

Meanwhile, Patrice Motsepe, founder of African Rainbow Minerals and Africa’s first black billionaire, saw a more modest gain of $300 million. Still, his role in business and sport — especially as CAF President — keeps him highly influential across the continent.

Big Jumps for Bekker, Le Roux and Wiese

Media mogul Koos Bekker, Capitec Bank founder Michiel le Roux, and retail tycoon Christo Wiese all saw sharp jumps in their global rankings — with some climbing nearly 500 spots.

Bekker’s media empire, built on the success of Naspers, continues to dominate digital content and e-commerce. Le Roux remains one of the key figures behind Capitec’s remarkable rise as a preferred banking option in South Africa. Wiese, once rattled by Steinhoff’s collapse, seems to be regaining ground.

The Next Billionaire?

One name Joburgers might be hearing more of soon is Zak Calisto — the founder and CEO of fleet tech company Karooooo. His personal stake in the business is inching past the billion-dollar mark, putting him on track to become South Africa’s next officially recognised dollar billionaire.

Karooooo, listed on both the Nasdaq and JSE, runs Cartrack, a fleet management and vehicle tracking firm with a growing global footprint.

And Then There’s Elon…

While he’s no longer based in SA, Elon Musk’s local roots still get a nod whenever billionaires are discussed. The Pretoria-born entrepreneur starts 2025 as the richest person on Earth, with a net worth of $426.8 billion (R7.98 trillion).

Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink and now AI ventures like xAI have cemented his place at the top of the global billionaire pile.

Just behind him are Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, and France’s Bernard Arnault, the only non-American in the top five.

What This Means for South Africa

While the widening gap between the ultra-rich and everyday South Africans continues to spark public debate, these billionaires remain key players in the country’s economy. Their businesses create jobs, drive exports, and shape South Africa’s global reputation.

Social media reactions to the latest rankings have been a mix of admiration and frustration — with some praising entrepreneurial resilience, and others calling for wealth redistribution in a country battling high unemployment and inequality.

Still, the numbers are clear: South Africa’s wealthiest are growing even wealthier, and their global influence is rising.

Source:Business Tech

Read More: Young, Ambitious & Wealthy: Meet South Africa’s 20 Youngest Millionaires in 2025

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