Trending

Africa’s richest people and presidents

Staff Writer

 ·8 Oct 2014

Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote remains the richest man on the African continent, according to Forbes – although Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos may give the cement magnate a run for his money.

According to its “real time” billionaire tracking, Forbes ranks Dangote’s $23.7 billion wealth top on the continent – with South African business leader, Johann Rupert maintaining second spot.

Rupert’s position has diminished slightly since March 2014, having seen his wealth shrink to $6.7 billion from $7.6 billion at the start of the year.

Top 10 richest Africans (October 2014)

Notably, Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos ranks 8th with a net worth of $3.4 billion.

Dos Santos is the daughter of Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who was ranked as Africa’s richest leader in a report from online portal, Richest Lifestyle.

Dos Santos is listed by the portal as the richest president on the continent with an estimated net worth exceeding $20 billion.

While Isabel dos Santos’ representatives have reportedly denied any links to the president, Forbes said its own research showed that the president transferred stakes in several companies to his daughter, accounting for her mass wealth.

Isabel Dos Santos is a big player in the Angolan banking, telecommunications, oil and retail sector.

Africa’s other wealthy leaders, according to Richest Lifestyle, include King Mohammed VI of Morocco, with an approximate net worth of $2.5 billion, Equatorial Guinean president Teodoro Mbasogo, with an approximate worth of $600 million and Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, valued at $500 million.

The group claims that, as the exact figures and sources of wealth are not known, the presidents and leaders cannot be included on Forbes’ official listing, though Forbes is cited as the source of the estimated wealth.

Forbes estimated Kenyatta’s wealth at $500 million in its 2012 Richest Africans ranking, while the most recent reference to King Mohammed VI’s net worth pegs it at $2 billion.

While South African president Jacob Zuma does not feature – Forbes has ranked the country’s vice president, Cyril Ramaphosa, as being worth $700 million.

More on the richest

The world’s richest countries

How much the world’s richest people are worth

South Africa’s richest people in 2014

The world’s richest people in 2014