The top 10 richest people in Africa in 2026 control some of the continent’s biggest companies, spanning manufacturing, mining, banking, telecommunications and luxury goods. According to Forbes, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest person for the 15th consecutive year, while several other business leaders climbed the rankings after strong gains in their company share prices.
The continent now has 23 billionaires worth a combined $126.7 billion, up 21% from the previous year. Stronger stock markets, record corporate earnings and rising commodity prices helped drive wealth growth across manufacturing, mining, finance and telecommunications.
Below are the 10 richest people in Africa in 2026, based on the latest Forbes Billionaires List.
Top 10 Richest People in Africa (2026)
| Rank | Billionaire | Country | Net Worth | Industry |
| 1 | Aliko Dangote | Nigeria | $28.5 billion | Manufacturing |
| 2 | Johann Rupert & Family | South Africa | $16.1 billion | Luxury Goods & Retail |
| 3 | Abdulsamad Rabiu | Nigeria | $11.2 billion | Manufacturing & Diversified |
| 4 | Nicky Oppenheimer & Family | South Africa | $10.6 billion | Mining & Investments |
| 5 | Nassef Sawiris | Egypt | $9.6 billion | Construction & Engineering |
| 6 | Mike Adenuga | Nigeria | $6.5 billion | Telecommunications & Energy |
| 7 | Naguib Sawiris | Egypt | $5.6 billion | Telecommunications & Mining |
| 8 | Patrice Motsepe | South Africa | $4.3 billion | Mining |
| 9 | Mohamed Mansour | Egypt | $4.0 billion | Diversified Investments |
| 10 | Michiel Le Roux | South Africa | $3.8 billion | Banking |
Who Is the Richest Person in Africa in 2026?
Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $28.5 billion. His fortune increased by $4.6 billion during the past year after Dangote Cement reported record profits and its share price climbed by nearly 69%.
His business empire stretches across cement, fertiliser, sugar and oil refining. The Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest refinery, has become a cornerstone of his long-term strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and reduce fuel imports. The company also plans to list the refinery on the Nigerian Exchange after expanding production capacity.
1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – Richest Person in Africa – $28.5 Billion
Aliko Dangote built Africa’s largest manufacturing group through decades of investment in cement, sugar and fertiliser. Today, Dangote Cement operates across several African countries and remains the continent’s largest cement producer.
More recently, the billionaire shifted his attention to energy. The launch of the Dangote Refinery marked one of the biggest private-sector investments in African history, while new expansion plans continue to strengthen his position as the continent’s richest businessman.
2. Johann Rupert & Family (South Africa’s Richest Billionaire) – $16.1 Billion
Johann Rupert remains South Africa’s richest person and the second-richest individual in Africa. He serves as chairman of Richemont, the Swiss luxury group behind global brands including Cartier, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Beyond luxury goods, Rupert has built a diversified investment portfolio through Remgro and Reinet Investments, with interests spanning banking, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services. That broad exposure has helped preserve his wealth despite changing economic conditions.
3. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $11.2 Billion
Abdulsamad Rabiu recorded the biggest increase in wealth among Africa’s billionaires in 2026. His fortune more than doubled after shares of BUA Cement surged by 135%, making it one of the strongest-performing companies on the Nigerian Exchange.
The remarkable growth lifted Rabiu from sixth to third place on the Forbes rankings. Through BUA Group, he continues expanding investments in cement, sugar, flour, food processing and infrastructure while also developing a major oil refinery.
4. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family (South Africa) – $10.6 Billion
Nicky Oppenheimer inherited one of the world’s best-known diamond fortunes before transforming it into a diversified investment empire. Although the family sold its stake in De Beers in 2012, Oppenheimer continues to grow his wealth through private equity, agriculture and consumer businesses across Africa.
He has also invested heavily in wildlife conservation, protecting hundreds of square miles of land across Southern Africa.
5. Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – $9.6 Billion
Nassef Sawiris remains Egypt’s richest businessman and one of Africa’s leading international investors. His wealth comes from Orascom Construction, one of the region’s largest engineering companies, as well as major investments outside Africa.
He owns a significant stake in Adidas and is also a co-owner of English Premier League club Aston Villa, making him one of the continent’s most globally connected billionaires.
6. Mike Adenuga (Nigeria) – $6.5 Billion
Mike Adenuga built his fortune through telecommunications and oil production. His company, Globacom, ranks among Nigeria’s largest mobile network operators, while Conoil maintains interests across the country’s energy sector.
Unlike many entrepreneurs whose fortunes depend largely on stock market performance, Adenuga’s wealth rests on businesses that have expanded steadily over several decades.
7. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt) – $5.6 Billion
Naguib Sawiris first made his name in telecommunications before expanding into mining, media and real estate. His investment company now holds interests in gold mining projects across Africa alongside luxury property developments in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
His diversified portfolio has helped him remain one of Egypt’s most influential business leaders.
8. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – $4.3 Billion
Patrice Motsepe became the first Black African billionaire through African Rainbow Minerals, a mining company with operations in gold, platinum, copper and iron ore.
Since then, he has broadened his investments through African Rainbow Capital while also leading the Confederation of African Football. His business interests now extend well beyond mining into financial services and private equity.
9. Mohamed Mansour (Egypt) – $4.0 Billion
Mohamed Mansour leads Mansour Group, one of Egypt’s largest family-owned conglomerates. The company operates across automotive distribution, heavy equipment, consumer retail and international investments.
At the same time, his London-based investment firm, Man Capital, has increased its holdings in technology companies and renewable energy projects, further diversifying the family’s wealth.
10. Michiel Le Roux (South Africa) – $3.8 Billion
Michiel Le Roux completes Africa’s top ten after another strong year for Capitec Bank. The lender continued attracting millions of customers while delivering solid financial performance, helping its share price outperform much of the South African market.
As banking services continue expanding across the country, Le Roux remains one of Africa’s most successful financial entrepreneurs.
Which Countries Have the Most Billionaires in Africa?
South Africa continues to lead the continent with seven billionaires, followed by Egypt with five and Nigeria with four. Morocco has three billionaires, while Algeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe each have one.
Notably, every billionaire in Africa’s top ten comes from just three countries: South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt. That concentration reflects the strength of their financial markets, industrial sectors and long-established family businesses.
What Industries Create Africa’s Richest Billionaires?
Manufacturing remains the largest source of billionaire wealth in Africa, driven by companies such as Dangote Cement and BUA Group. Mining follows closely, with fortunes built on diamonds, gold, platinum and iron ore.
Telecommunications has also produced several of the continent’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, while banking, construction, engineering and diversified investments continue to generate substantial fortunes. Increasingly, many of Africa’s richest business leaders are expanding into energy, infrastructure and financial services to support long-term growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the richest person in Africa?
Aliko Dangote is the richest person in Africa in 2026, with an estimated net worth of $28.5 billion.
Which country has the most billionaires in Africa?
South Africa has the highest number of billionaires, with seven people on the Forbes Africa billionaires list.
Who is the richest man in Nigeria?
Aliko Dangote is Nigeria’s richest person, followed by Abdulsamad Rabiu and Mike Adenuga.
How many billionaires are there in Africa?
Forbes lists 23 African billionaires in 2026, with a combined net worth of $126.7 billion.
Final Thoughts
The latest Forbes rankings show that manufacturing, mining, banking and telecommunications continue to produce Africa’s largest fortunes. While markets will influence future rankings, Aliko Dangote remains the richest person in Africa in 2026, followed by Johann Rupert and Abdulsamad Rabiu.
