10 renowned Africans investing billions to shape the future of sports

At a Glance

• Investors channel long-term capital into African football, rugby and basketball ecosystems.
• Sports investments drive youth development, infrastructure growth and global league integration.
• Strategic ownership links African talent to elite European and global competitions.

Across Africa, a powerful group of billionaires is investing billions of dollars into sports, turning football, rugby and basketball into engines of economic growth, youth development and global relevance.

From South Africa and Nigeria to Egypt and Tanzania, these investors are reshaping sports ownership, sponsorship and governance.

Their capital is helping local clubs compete globally, modernizing academies, upgrading stadiums and linking African talent to elite leagues in Europe and beyond.

What sets these billionaires apart is a long-term approach. Rather than short-term wins, they are investing in infrastructure, training systems and community-based models designed to sustain African sports for decades.

This Shore Africa ranking spotlights 10 African billionaires betting big on the future of sports, revealing how strategic capital, long-term vision and pan-African ambition are redefining the continent’s sports economy.

1. Johann Rupert
Nationality: South African
Net Worth: $16.3 billion
Johann Rupert, chairman of Compagnie Financière Richemont and Remgro, has made significant strides in the sports world, particularly in rugby and football. As a co-owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, Rupert has helped transform the club into a dominant force in South African football. His influence in rugby extends to his substantial stake in the Blue Bulls Company and a 74 percent ownership of the Boland Rugby Union, aiming to strengthen South Africa’s rugby legacy. Beyond ownership, Rupert supports athlete development through initiatives like the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. Rupert built his fortune in luxury goods and strategic investments, with a net worth of $16.3 billion, making him one of the top billionaires globally.

2. Nassef Sawiris
Nationality: Egyptian
Net Worth: $8.5 billion
Nassef Sawiris, Egypt’s richest man, has made sports a cornerstone of his investment strategy. In 2018, he partnered with American billionaire Wes Edens to launch V Sports, acquiring then-relegated Aston Villa FC. Within a year, Villa returned to the Premier League and, under Sawiris’ stewardship, has risen as a serious European contender. Expanding his sporting footprint, Sawiris acquired a 46 percent stake in Portugal’s Vitória S.C. for €5.5 million in 2023, advancing his vision of a global multi-club network. His commitment goes beyond ownership: he is spearheading a major redevelopment of Villa Park, set to boost capacity beyond 50,000 by 2027. In 2025, following the UK’s abolition of the “non-dom” tax regime, Sawiris moved his residency to Italy and Abu Dhabi, while retaining his UK assets and football interests. Born into Egypt’s influential Sawiris dynasty, he built his fortune through NNS Group, with major stakes in construction, fertilizers (OCI), and now increasingly, sport. Today, he ranks not only as Egypt’s wealthiest individual but also among the top 10 Arab billionaires globally.

3. Mike Adenuga
Nationality: Nigerian
Net Worth: $6.4 billion
Mike Adenuga may not own a club, but he dominates West Africa’s sports sponsorship arena, pouring over $25 billion into Nigerian football since 2003, backing the Nigeria Premier League, CAF Awards and coaching salaries, while his Glo Soccer Academy grooms top talent at elite facilities in Dubai and Manchester United’s Academy and his Glo Golf Tour shines a spotlight on emerging golfers. As founder of Globacom, Adenuga has leveraged massive media and sponsorship clout to revive interest in West African football and accelerate youth development. In sports philanthropy and branding, no other Nigerian billionaire matches his playbook.

4. Naguib Sawiris
Nationality: Egyptian
Net Worth: $5 billion
Naguib Sawiris, through his ZED Sports platform, poured EGP 1.5 billion ($29.4 million) into rebuilding ZED FC’s academy and facilities, transforming it into an award-winning talent factory“Best Academy in Africa” and “Best in the Middle East” at the Globe Soccer Awards. He then extended the club’s reach globally by forging youth development ties with Aston Villa, Vitória S.C., and Japan’s Vissel Kobe, giving Egyptian prospects rare international exposure. While his brother Nassef pursued European ventures, Naguib stayed local, turning Egypt’s football infrastructure into a prototype sports-tech and training hub that exemplifies the future of African clubs.

5. Mohamed Mansour
Nationality: Egyptian
Net Worth: $3.4 billion
Mohamed Mansour, with a net worth of $3.4 billion, chairs the Mansour Group, a diversified conglomerate valued at $6 billion. His sports investments reflect his commitment to youth development and community empowerment. In 2021, Mansour’s group acquired the Right to Dream Academy for $120 million, expanding its global football network across Ghana, Denmark, Egypt, and California. This initiative focuses on talent discovery, education, and social impact. In 2025, Mansour is set to launch San Diego FC, the city’s first Major League Soccer team, further embedding sport as a vehicle for positive change. His vision drives investments in world-class training facilities and professional competition, empowering youth across multiple continents. Through the Mansour Group, Mansour uses sport as a catalyst for social development, blending education, community engagement, and football to create lasting impact. With strategic investments in football academies and his new MLS franchise, Mansour is shaping the future of both sports and youth development globally.

6. Patrice Motsepe
Nationality: South African
Net Worth: $3.9 billion
Patrice Motsepe, owner of South Africa’s powerhouse club Mamelodi Sundowns, has turned his passion for football into a major investment. Since acquiring the club in 2003, Sundowns have claimed multiple Premier Soccer League and CAF Champions League titles. Motsepe also serves as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), further cementing his influence in the sport. With a net worth of $3 billion, the mining magnate built his fortune through African Rainbow Minerals before expanding into fintech, sustainable energy, and philanthropy through African Rainbow Capital and the Motsepe Foundation.

7. Mohammed Dewji
Nationality: Tanzanian
Net Worth: $2.2 billion
Owner of Simba SC, Mohammed Dewji has leveraged his 49 percent stake to inject crucial capital, upgrade infrastructure, and stage international friendlies, transforming Tanzania’s football crown jewel into a bona fide pan-African contender. Currently 50 years old, the Dar es Salaam–based mogul boasts a net worth of $2.2 billion. Beyond the pitch, he heads MeTL Group, a multisector Tanzanian conglomerate active in manufacturing, agriculture, telecommunications, and consumer goods. This audacious playbook in sports mirrors Dewji’s broader ethos: marrying deep local roots with bold global ambitions.

8. Ibrahim Sagna
Nationality: Senegalese
Key Sports Investment: Founding Partner & Vice-Chairman, Cape Town Tigers Senegalese financier Ibrahim Sagna is a founding partner and vice-chairman of the Cape Town Tigers, one of the standout teams in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Through this high-profile venture, Sagna brings boardroom expertise to the court, blending elite sports with investment strategy. With an estimated net worth of $827 million (as of April 2025), the Silverbacks Holdings chairman has over 25 years in global finance, with past roles at Afreximbank, AFC, and Emerging Capital Partners. His diverse portfolio spans tech, media, entertainment, and lifestyle, anchored by a bold, pan-African vision that positions sport as both business and catalyst for continental growth.

9. Kunle Soname
Nationality: Nigerian
Key Sports Investment: C.D. Feirense (Portugal) & Remo Stars F.C. (Nigeria)
Nigerian entrepreneur Kunle Soname made history in 2015 by becoming the first Nigerian to own a European football club, acquiring a 70 percent stake in Portugal’s C.D. Feirense, a second-division side. He is also the founder of Remo Stars F.C., originally established in 2004 as FC Dender in Lagos before relocating and rebranding in Ogun State. Today, Remo Stars competes in the top division of the Nigerian Premier League. Soname, a proud native of Remo in Ogun State, has consistently demonstrated his commitment to grassroots football development through his investments both locally and internationally. Beyond football, he holds a near-100 percent stake in KC Gaming Networks Limited, the company behind Bet9ja, one of Nigeria’s leading sports betting platforms, licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries Board. Under his leadership, Bet9ja secured a major sponsorship deal with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), becoming the official sponsor of the Nigerian National League, the country’s second-tier football division.

10. Shola Akinlade
Nationality: Nigerian
Key Sports Investment: Aarhus Fremad (Denmark) & Sporting Lagos FC (Nigeria)
Paystack co-founder Shola Akinlade ventured into football in 2022 by founding Sporting Lagos FC, a club he envisions as a platform for community development and social change. In March 2023, he expanded his interests by acquiring a 55 percent stake in Danish second-division club Aarhus Fremad. The partnership aims to professionalize Sporting Lagos FC, with the Nigerian club serving as a talent academy to feed players into the European system.