Data from Forbes\u2019 real-time ranking of billionaires shows that 2023 has been a mixed bag for South Africa’s five wealthiest individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like last year, luxury goods mogul Johann Rupert, former diamond magnate Nicky Oppenheimer, media mogul Koos Bekker, mining boss Patrice Motsepe, and Capitec founder Michiel le Roux were the wealthiest South Africans for 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maintaining his top spot, Rupert was the only South African billionaire reported by Forbes to have made financial gains over the year \u2013 recording a $400 million (R7.6 billion) net worth increase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bekker kept a steady ship, maintaining his $2.4 billion (R45.7 billion) net worth from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, three of the country’s well-known billionaires, Oppenheimer, Motsepe, and le Roux, have less money than they did at this time last year \u2013 recording net worths amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars less than in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of the billionaires mentioned above dropped in the global billionaire rankings from last year, with Motsepe and le Roux dropping nearly 300 and over 400 places, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ‘big-five’ wealthiest South Africans<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When looking at the world rankings, the top five richest South Africans find themselves dispersed. Rupert is 70 spots above second-place Oppenheimer and over 1,200 places above third-placed Bekker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Motsepe did not maintain his bronze medal position, dropping to fourth place. Fifth-placed le Roux sits over 2,200 spots behind Rupert.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBillionaire<\/strong><\/td> Dec-22 world ranking <\/strong><\/td> Dec-23 world ranking<\/strong><\/td> Dec-22 net worth<\/strong><\/td> Dec-23 net worth <\/strong><\/td> Change<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Johann Rupert<\/td> 202<\/td> 206<\/mark><\/td> $9.4 billion<\/td> $9.8 billion<\/strong> (R186.7 billion)<\/td> +$400 million<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Nicky Oppenheimer<\/td> 226<\/td> 276<\/mark><\/td> $8.6 billion<\/td> $8.3 billion<\/strong> (R158.1 billion)<\/td> -$300 million<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Koos Bekker<\/td> 1251<\/td> 1291<\/mark><\/td> $2.4 billion<\/td> $2.4 billion <\/strong>(R45.7 billion)<\/td> No change<\/td><\/tr> Patrice Motsepe<\/td> 1065<\/td> 1324<\/mark><\/td> $2.7 billion<\/td> $2.3 billion<\/strong> (R43.8 billion)<\/td> -$400 million<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Michiel le Roux<\/td> 2004<\/td> 2433<\/mark><\/td> $1.4 billion<\/td> R1.1 billion<\/strong> (R20.9 billion)<\/td> -$300 million<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>