AFRICA’S top seven (7) richest are a lot of really interesting things about the remarkable continent of Africa. From Africa’s natural resources and its magnificent looks to the different cultures and all they have to offer. Africa is really blessed and amazing. What people might not have realized about Africa is that it also has its share of billionaires and millionaires.
These rich individuals have their versatile interesting backstories on the ways they obtained their riches. The seven (7) richest in Africa run world-class businesses and operate many different industries.
Furthermore, these industries include textiles, food production, agriculture, diamonds, communication and more. Diversification and investments also have helped generate a lot of wealth.
1) ALIKO DANGOTE (Nigeria)
A list of Africa’s richest would not be possible without Aliko Dangote. Dangote’s net worth is $14.1 billion, making him the richest man on the continent. Aliko was born in Kano, Nigeria. He owns the Dangote Group. The Dangote Group owns stakes in many different industries. What really helped Dangote get his start was cement.
Aliko owns Dangote Cement, which is Africa’s largest producer of cement. Making more than 44 million tons of cement annually. The Dangote Group has stakes in sugar, flour, and salt manufacturing companies as well, giving it a diversification edge.
2) Mike Adenuga (Nigeria)
Born in Idaban, Nigeria, Mike Adenuga has a net worth of $4.2 billion. He owns the company Globacom. Globacom is the second-largest telecommunication provider in Nigeria. In addition to owning Globacom. Adenuga also has stakes in several ventures. He owns investments in the Equitorial Trust Bank and Conoil.
Conoil is an oil exploration firm that has proven to be very lucrative for Adenuga. He got his first oil drill in 1990. And, just one year later, he struck oil. Adenuga’s company was the first indigenous drilling company to achieve this.
3) Issad Rebrab (Algeria)
With a net worth of $3.2 billion, Issad Rebrab resides in the same country in which he was born: Algeria. The Algerian businessman founded Cevital, which is Algeria’s largest privately-owned company.
Rebrab founded Cevital in 1998. From there, it has expanded into tons of different industries. Rebrab’s company owns stakes in agriculture, food sectors, retail sectors, and services related to those industries.
Cevital didn’t just stop there. It has several subsidiaries as well, including EXAGON SAS, Alas Iberia, SLU, Ness-Prod, and more. Rebrab may have gotten his start in food production. But his businesses have expanded far beyond that.
4) Isabel dos Santos (Angola)
Isabel dos Santos fron Angola, is Africa’s richest woman. She is worth $2.1 billion. Born in Azerbaijan during the Soviet Union era. Her father was the Angolan president Jose Santos. Isabel is highly-educated, receiving a degree in electrical engineering at King’s College in England.
Isabel has achieved her billionaire-status through her investments in Angolan companies. She heads several investment companies that not only have stakes in oil and diamonds. Also in media, finance, retail, telecommunications and energy. Isabel dos santos is one of the world’s foremost businesspeople to date, and her wealth can prove that.
5) Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)
Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) was the founder and chairs African Rainbow Minerals. The company has stakes in gold, platinum, ferrous metals, and base metals.
The mineral giant “African Rainbow Minerals” started out as a law partner in the firm Bowman Gilfillan. After that, he founded his first mining company. The company which contracted to siphon gold dust from mine shafts. The drastic fall on the price of gold, considering his purchase of gold mines in 1997., paid off in the future, and he was able to use that money to start African Rainbow Minerals.
Recently, he pledged to donate $250 million to helping institute South African land reform. Patrice Motsepe’s net worth is two billion.
6) Aziz Akhannouch (morocco)
Aziz Akhannouch (morocco), has a net worth of two billion. A father of three and has an MBA from the University of Sherbrooke. Aziz Akhannouch is a Moroccan citizen. And he is the majority owner of an investment company called Akwa Group.
Akwa Group which invest mainly in oil, petroleum, chemicals, and gas. Its investments primarily reside with Afriquia Gaz and Maghreb Oxygene. Aziz’s father founded the Akwa Group, and it has grown to become a multi-billion-dollar company.
He is Africa’s twelfth-richest man. Aziz’s wife, Salwa, owns her own company as well. Her company has investments in Gap, Zara, and Galeries Lafayette franchises in Morocco.
7) Folorunsho Alakija (Nigeria)
Folorunsho Alakija (Nigeria) is a strong and known Nigerian businesswoman. She is Africa’s second-richest woman. Folorunsho’s net worth is $1.5 billion, and Forbes Magazine titled her the 67th Most Powerful Woman in the World. Early in her career, she worked as a secretary. And later moved into the banking and fashion industry, traveling all around the world.
Alakija continued her upward climb and now is the managing director of the Rose of Sharon Group and executive VP of Famfa Oil. Alakija has worked hard for every single thing she has. She received her education in the United Kingdom. And she is well deserving of her membership on the World’s Most Powerful Women list.
