South Africa’s top billionaires in 2026 wield immense economic power across mining, luxury goods, finance, technology and retail.
Their fortunes influence investment flows, employment, industrial growth and capital markets not only within South Africa, but across the African continent and global economy.
At the top of this elite group is Johann Rupert, chairman of luxury giant Richemont, alongside mining titans Nicky Oppenheimer and Patrice Motsepe, media and technology powerbroker Koos Bekker, and commodities heavyweight Ivan Glasenberg.
Viewed through a capital-markets lens, South Africa’s billionaire class functions as both economic stabilizer and structural risk.
Their assets anchor foreign inflows, market liquidity and long-term investment confidence, yet also concentrate ownership in legacy sectors.
How effectively this capital is redeployed will shape productivity, inclusion and sustainable growth over the next decade.
As South Africa navigates its economic future, these billionaires, and the empires they control, will remain central to discussions about growth, reform and shared prosperity. The real question is whether their wealth will help close the country’s economic divide, or further entrench it.
In this report, Shore Africa ranks South Africa’s 10 richest billionaires in 2026 by net worth, examining how their business empires are shaping the country’s present, and its future.
1. Johann Rupert
Net Worth: $15.1 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Luxury Goods and Investments
Johann Rupert is South Africa’s richest billionaire in 2026, with a fortune anchored in Richemont, the global luxury group behind Cartier, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels. His wealth is tied to global demand for high-end goods, extending South Africa’s economic influence into Europe, Asia and the United States. Beyond business, Rupert plays a prominent philanthropic role through the Rupert Family Foundation, supporting education, conservation and entrepreneurship.
2. Ivan Glasenberg
Net Worth: $13 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Mining and Commodities
Ivan Glasenberg built his fortune leading Glencore into one of the world’s largest mining and commodities trading companies. Under his leadership, Glencore expanded coal, ferroalloy and base metal operations in South Africa, reinforcing mining as a backbone of the national economy. Even after stepping down as CEO, Glasenberg remains one of South Africa’s most influential figures in global resource markets.
3. Nicky Oppenheimer
Net Worth: $10.6 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Mining and Investments
Nicky Oppenheimer is the heir to the De Beers diamond empire, which once dominated the global diamond trade. After selling the family’s stake in De Beers to Anglo American in 2012, he pivoted toward private equity and conservation through Oppenheimer Generations. His stewardship of the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve underscores his influence in eco-tourism and sustainable development.
4. Patrick Soon-Shiong
Net Worth: $8.2 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Healthcare and Biotechnology
Born in South Africa to Chinese immigrant parents, Patrick Soon-Shiong amassed his fortune in the United States through breakthroughs in cancer treatment and biotechnology. His company, NantWorks, is a leader in precision medicine. Despite his global footprint, he continues to invest in South Africa’s healthcare infrastructure and media landscape, including ownership of The Star newspaper.
5. Clive Calder
Net Worth: $6.9 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Music and Entertainment
Clive Calder revolutionized the global music industry through Zomba Music Group, launching the careers of artists such as Britney Spears and NSYNC. Though now based offshore, Calder remains one of South Africa’s wealthiest entertainment entrepreneurs, with a legacy that continues to inspire African creatives and media investors.
6. Patrice Motsepe
Net Worth: $4.2 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Mining, Investments, and Sports
Patrice Motsepe, the current chairman of Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), became Africa’s first Black billionaire in 2008 through African Rainbow Minerals. Since then, he has diversified into fintech, renewable energy and financial services via African Rainbow Capital. A major advocate for Black economic empowerment, Motsepe also owns Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club and plays a leading role in African philanthropy.
7. Koos Bekker
Net Worth: $3.8 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Media and Technology
Koos Bekker transformed Naspers from a local media firm into a global technology investor, most notably through its early stake in Tencent. His strategic vision reshaped South Africa’s digital economy, with Naspers-linked platforms spanning media, payments and e-commerce. Bekker’s success positioned South Africa as a serious player in global tech investing.
8. Michiel Le Roux
Net Worth: $3.5 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Banking
Michiel Le Roux co-founded Capitec Bank, disrupting South Africa’s banking sector with a low-cost, accessible model aimed at underserved consumers. Capitec’s growth reflects a broader shift toward financial inclusion, making Le Roux one of the country’s most influential figures in retail banking.
9. Jannie Mouton
Net Worth: $2.5 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Banking, Private Equity, and Investments
Jannie Mouton’s rise is a story of resilience. After losing his job at 48, he founded PSG Group, which built stakes in Capitec Bank, Curro Holdings and Zeder Investments. His strategic investments reshaped sectors ranging from finance to private education, cementing his place among South Africa’s top billionaires.
10. Christoffel Wiese
Net Worth: $2 billion
Primary wealth drivers/business: Retail & Investment
Christoffel “Christo” Wiese made his fortune through Pepkor and early investments in Shoprite, helping build Africa’s largest supermarket chain. Though his net worth declined following corporate setbacks, Wiese remains one of South Africa’s most influential retail magnates, with a legacy defined by mass-market access and job creation.
