By Amira Elhamy
Africa, or the gold continent is, in fact, extremely resource rich; it is a main attraction for investors and businessmen from all over the world. Several business fields are booming in Africa; most importantly telecommunications. This article sheds light on some of the most famous businessmen in Africa.
Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicky Oppenheimer’s net worth $6.8bn. Based in South Africa, the billionaire diamond businessman is also a full-time investor, owning shares in several companies such as the mining conglomerate “Anglo-American.” Nicky Oppenheimer is one of the wealthiest people in Africa.
Christoffel Wiese
Christoffel Wiese’s fortune is estimated at $5.4bn, a retail genius based in South Africa, Wiese has interests and investments in several South African establishments such as fast food chains, supermarkets and furniture stores. He also has invested in many organisations in more than 15 countries.
Nassef and Naguib Sawiris
Nassef Sawiris; one of the richest businessman in Africa, Sawiris runs Orascom Construction (OCI), his fortune has increased by $200m in 2013 and in 2015, his net worth was estimated at $5.9bn by Forbes, making him the 240th richest person in world and the sixth richest in Africa. Naguib Sawiris has a net worth of $3.1bn and is the founder of one of the largest telecommunication companies in Egypt, Orascom Telecom Media & Technology. OTMT has invested in various industries such as media, mobile phone and other technological companies in other countries like Pakistan and Lebanon.
Mohamed and Yasseen Mansour
Another significant Egyptian businessman is Mohamed Mansour whose net worth is $4bn; as a wise billionaire and businessman, Mansour has diversified his investments in different industries in Egypt. He oversees and manages the growth and functioning of Mansour Group and General Motors simultaneously. He has also invested overseas in the telecom, education and real estate industries. Yasseen Mansour runs Mansour Group along with his brothers with a net profit of $2.3bn. The company specializes in Caterpillar dealerships with diversified interests into other industries where, for instance, it is the distributor of L’Oreal in Egypt. Yasseen is also the founder of the real estate developing company “Palm Hills Development.”
Rostam Azizi
Tanzania’s Rostam Azizi has a net worth of $900m, a self-made billionaire who mainly invests in the telecommunications industry, he is a major stakeholder of Vodacom Tanzania – the largest mobile network company in the country. Azizi has also diversified his assets by investing in real estate and mining industries.
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu, the Nigerian self-made billionaire has a net worth of $1bn. Kalu is the founder and CEO of Slok Holding a company that operates in several industries including media, shipping, oil trading, manufacturing and banking. He was one of the richest millionaires in Africa during his twenties.
