Forbes Magazine, On Friday, June 16, declared South African billionaire, Johann Rupert, ”Africa’s richest man,” displacing Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, who has held that title consecutively for 10 years.
Forbes real-time Global Billionaires Ranking pegged Rupert’s net worth at $12 billion and Dangote’s at $10.8 billion. Dangote’s net worth took a massive dip due to the naira depreciation caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to auction the dollar at a relatively lower rate than the official market price.
Johanna’s new status as Africa’s richest man, here are important things to know about him.
1: 73 years old Rupert was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on June 1, 1950 to business tycoon Anton Rupert and his wife, Hurberte. He is the eldest of his parent’s children.
2: In 2004, the same university honoured Rupert with an honorary degree in economics. In 2008, he received another honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
3: Rupert studied economics and company law at the University of Stellenbosch but dropped out to pursue a business career.
4: In 1979, he returned to South Africa after a while in the US and established Rand Merchant Bank where he remained CEO until 1984 when the company merged to form RMB Holdings.
5: Rupert is married to Gaynor Rupert. The couple has three children together; Anton Ruper Jr., Caroline Rupert, and Hanneli Rupert.
6: In 1997, Rupert became the Non-Executive Chairman of Gold Fields South Africa Ltd.
7: Rupert is also a golf enthusiast. In 1990, he established the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The foundation is aimed at addressing social issues through sports and has helped with about 675 projects globally.
8: Upon leaving RMB, Rupert joined his father’s cigarette manufacturing company, Rembrandt Group, founded in 1948.
9: In 1988, Rupert founded Compagnie Financiere Richemont, a Switzerland-based luxury goods holding company. In the same year, he was appointed Non-Executive Director of Rothmans International plc and was also honoured by the Sunday Times as the “Businessman of the Year.”
10: In 1989, Rupert became the vice chairman of his father’s company and was made chairman of the same company, Rembrandt Group Limited, in 1991.
