South Africa's four dollar billionaires
Nicky Oppenheimer & family: $7-billion
Overall: No 136
South Africa: No 1
Oppenheimer, chairman of De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer, has had a choppy ride in the last few years, says Forbes. Buyers took flight in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis but are now slowly coming back, led by developing countries such as India and China. The company aggressively cut costs last year and sold some assets this year. Oppenheimer quashed speculation in January that he was divesting the family's 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American, which already owns 45% in it. The Oppenheimer family owns 2% of Anglo American, founded in 1917 by grandfather Ernest.
JOHAN RUPERT: $4.8-billion
Overall: No 219
South Africa: No 2
Rupert owns Swiss luxury group Richemont, which owns Cartier and Dunhill. Richemont bought out online fashion portal Net-a-Porter for £350-million last April. He owns two of South Africa's best-known vineyards, Rupert & Rothschild and L'Ormarins, with family members.
Patrice Motsepe: $3.3-billion
Overall: No 336
South Africa: No 3
The Soweto-born mining magnate is South Africa's first black billionaire. Forbes says his net worth increased by $1-billion this year as a result of rising stock prices. Motsepe, who started in mining in 1994 by buying low-producing gold mine shafts and returning them to profitability, has since created a $1.5-billion mining conglomerate through African Rainbow Minerals. He also has a stake in Sanlam.
Christo Wiese: $1.6-billion
Overall: No 82 (newcomer)
South Africa: No 4
Wiese, 69, made his money as chairman of Shoprite, Africa's biggest retailer, and through his stake in Pepkor.
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South Africa's four dollar billionaires
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Burkyz_2012
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