Forbes ranks Africa’s richest

Africa’s billionaires have made significant strides in various industries, from cement and telecommunications to luxury goods and diamonds. This is according to the latest Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires rankings. Leading the list is Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, with a net worth of $13.5bn. As the founder and chairman of Dangote Cement, the continent's largest cement producer, Dangote has expanded his business empire across 19 African countries. IoL reports that Johann Rupert leads the pack as South Africa’s richest person. He chairs Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont, known for prestigious brands such as Cartier and Montblanc. Another prominent South African billionaire is Nicky Oppenheimer, with a net worth of $9.5bn. Oppenheimer, heir to the De Beers diamond fortune, sold his 40% stake in the firm to Anglo American for $5.1bn in 2012. Nassef Sawiris of Egypt ranks next with a net worth of $8.8bn. Sawiris, a key figure in Egypt's wealthiest family, has a diverse portfolio that includes a significant stake in German sportswear giant Adidas and ownership of the Premier League's Aston Villa Football Club. Nigeria's Mike Adenuga, with a net worth of $6.7bn, built his fortune in telecommunications and oil production. His mobile network, Globacom, is Nigeria's second-largest operator, with more than 60m subscribers.