Africa’s richest individuals recorded a historic rise in wealth in 2025, with the combined net worth of the continent’s billionaires crossing $100 billion for the first time, according to Forbes. The ranking shows Africa now has 22 billionaires worth a combined $105 billion, up from $82.4 billion shared by 20 people the previous year.
The growth came despite political instability, currency volatility and weak consumer markets across Africa. Analysts linked the surge to gains in global equity markets, which rose by about 22 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025. Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote retained his position as Africa’s richest person for the 14th straight year, with a net worth of $23.9 billion.
Forbes attributed Dangote’s sharp wealth increase to the inclusion of the value of his Lagos-based oil refinery, which began refining operations in early 2024. “This is a very big relief,” Dangote told Forbes, describing the project as key to helping Africa refine its own crude oil and create long-term economic value.
FULL LIST: Africa’s richest people in 2025
- Aliko Dangote ($23.9bn) – Nigeria
- Johann Rupert & family ($14bn) – South Africa
- Nicky Oppenheimer & family ($10.4bn) – South Africa
- Nassef Sawiris ($9.6bn) – Egypt
- Mike Adenuga ($6.8bn) – Nigeria
- Abdulsamad Rabiu ($5.1bn) – Nigeria
- Naguib Sawiris ($5bn) – Egypt
- Koos Bekker ($3.4bn) – South Africa
- Mohamed Mansour ($3.4bn) – Egypt
- Patrice Motsepe ($3bn) – South Africa
- Issad Rebrab & family ($3bn) – Algeria
- Mohammed Dewji ($2.2bn) – Tanzania
- Michiel Le Roux ($2.2bn) – South Africa
- Othman Benjelloun & family ($1.6bn) – Morocco
- Anas Sefrioui & family ($1.6bn) – Morocco
- Aziz Akhannouch & family ($1.5bn) – Morocco
- Jannie Mouton & family ($1.5bn) – South Africa
- Femi Otedola ($1.5bn) – Nigeria
- Christoffel Wiese ($1.5bn) – South Africa
- Youssef Mansour ($1.4bn) – Egypt
- Yasseen Mansour ($1.2bn) – Egypt
- Strive Masiyiwa ($1.2bn) – Zimbabwe