Dangote Dominates as New List Shows Two Nigerians Rise in Global Billionaires Ranking
- Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote has retained his position as Africa’s wealthiest man on Forbes’ new billionaire ranking
- The new list also shows two Nigerian billionaires, Abdul Samad Rabiu and Mike Adenuga, making strong showings
- Dangote has continued to top the list since he made his debut in 2008, holding the crown for 14 consecutive years
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
Nigerian billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has consolidated his position as Africa’s wealthiest man, leading Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List, with a staggering net worth of $24.4 billion, ranking 88th globally.
The new ranking, which was released over the weekend, shows Dangote’s continued dominance in Nigeria and Africa’s wealth hierarchy, where he stands ahead of his Nigerian peers.
Source: Getty Images
Nigerian billionaires shine
Coming second in Africa is a fellow Nigerian and an industrialist, Abdulsamad Rabiu, who is ranked 516th world’s wealthiest men.
Globacom Chairman, Mike Adenuga, came 592nd in the world with a net worth of $6.3 billion.
Dangote has continued to feature in Africa’s billionaire index since his debut in 2008, reclaiming his spot several times and holding the title of Africa’s richest individual for 14 years.
His wealth, spanning cement and sugar production, and the recently launched mega refinery, has reinforced his role as a sign of Nigeria’s industrial growth.
While the Kano-born billionaire leads in Africa, other Nigerian billionaires continue to rise on the list.
Rabiu, who also operates in the cement and sugar businesses, and Mike Adenuga, with investments in oil, gas and telecommunications, remain prominent features.
South Africans make a strong showing
According to reports, South Africa’s luxury merchant, Johann Rupert, leads with $13.2 billion, followed by fellow South African, Nicky Oppenheimer, with $10.4 billion.
Africa’s wealthiest and their net worth
Others are:
- Koos Bekker with $3.8billion
- Mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe, with $3.4billion
- Banker, Michiel le Roux, with $2.7billion
- Jannie Mouton and family with $1.9billion,
- Retail investor, Christoffel Wiese, with $1.7billion.
Egypt’s presence shows
Egypt’s wealthy cohort is headlined by Nassef Sawiris ($8.8billion) and Naguib Sawiris ($5.0billion).
Forbes reports that the Mansour brothers, Mohammed, whose wealth is estimated at $3.4 billion, Youssef, with $1.4 billion in net worth, and Yasseen, with $1.2 billion, are among Egypt’s richest.
Apart from the three dominant countries, Eswatini’s Nathan Kirsh holds the ground with $8 billion.
Source: Getty Images
Morocco has about three billionaires on the list, with Othman Benejelloun & Family, with $2 billion, Aziz Akhannouch, with $1.6 billion, and Anas Sefrioui & family with $1.6 billion.
Tanzania’s Mohammed Dewji is worth $2.2billion, while Zimbabwe’s Strive Masiyiwa has $1.3billion, the report said.
Dangote gains $1.2bn, inches closer to $30bn net worth
Legit.ng earlier reported that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has added $1.20 billion to his fortune this year, positioning him within touching distance of becoming the first African to hit a $30 billion net worth.
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index currently values the Nigerian industrialist at $29.3 billion, up from $28.1 billion at the start of 2024.
The sharp rise has reignited speculation about whether Dangote will break the symbolic $30 billion ceiling—a feat that would cement his place in history as the first African billionaire to reach the mark.
Source: Legit.ng
