South African billionaire Koos Bekker has lost $800 million from his fortune since January, as a sharp decline in Naspers Ltd. and Prosus N.V. shares weighs on the value of his holdings. His net worth has fallen from $4 billion in January to about $3.2 billion, according to Forbes.

The decline marks a reversal for the 73-year-old investor, whose fortune had climbed to $4 billion on Jan. 14. Bekker’s wealth remains closely tied to Naspers and its Amsterdam-listed technology investment arm, Prosus, whose share prices have fallen sharply this year, eroding the value of his stakes in both companies.

Koos Bekker’s Naspers and Prosus stakes

Koos Bekker’s wealth is rooted in one of the most successful technology investments of the past two decades. In 2001, Naspers invested a reported $34 million for roughly one-third of Tencent, giving the South African media group exposure to a company that would become one of the world’s largest gaming and social media businesses.

Naspers still owns an indirect 24.6 percent stake in Tencent through Prosus, a holding valued at about $121 billion. Bekker, who serves as non-independent, nonexecutive chair of both Naspers and Prosus, owns a 0.93 percent stake in Naspers and a 0.76 percent interest in Prosus, leaving his fortune exposed to movements in both stocks.

Shares take a heavy hit

Both Naspers and Prosus have declined more than 35 percent since the start of the year, according to the figures cited in the report. The selloff has compounded the pressure on Bekker’s fortune, with the billionaire’s wealth moving lower even as his investment interests extend beyond technology and listed equities.

Bekker has also built a substantial hospitality portfolio with his wife, Karen Roos, reflecting an interest in property, travel and high-end destinations. Their holdings include Babylonstoren in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, The Newt in Somerset in the U.K., and Vignamaggio near Florence, Italy.

Hospitality offers another outlet

The couple expanded that portfolio in early 2024 with the acquisition of Blou, a coastal retreat near Plettenberg Bay. Their properties have drawn international visitors and supported events including the Chelsea Flower Show, giving Bekker a private investment base outside the technology holdings that have driven much of his wealth.

For Bekker, the shift in his fortune underscores how closely billionaire rankings can track public markets. Naspers and Prosus remain central to his wealth, while his hospitality assets provide a different exposure to long-term investments. As listed shares fluctuate, the value of his broader portfolio will continue to shape his position among Africa’s richest people.