Dangote, Rabiu, Adenuga lead Forbes Africa’s richest people’s list for January 2023

According to Forbes, Africa’s billionaires lost a combined $3.1 billion in the last 12 months.

Africa’s 19 billionaires are worth an estimated $18.5 billion, a decline from $84.9 billion in 2021, despite the presence of new millionaires on the list.

The 4% decline follows a 15% increase on the heels of surging stock prices across Africa.

The moguls’ fortunes dipped as equity values across the world are falling with the S&P All Africa index dropping more than 20% in the last nine months of 2022.

Billionaires from seven out of the continent’s 54 countries made the Forbes list.

Three Nigerians dominate Africa

Per Forbes list, Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man and an industrialist, who lost $400 million saw his fortune stand at $13,5 billion.

Dangote has remained Africa’s richest person for 12 years in a row and South African luxury goods merchant, Johann Rupert clings onto the second position for the second year with about $10.7 billion.

Three Nigerians dominate the latest list with BUA Group’s Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu taking the 4th position with $7.6 billion while Globacom’s Mike Adenuga clinched the 6th position with $6.3 billion.

The recent Forbes report differs from Bloomberg Billionaires Index where Dangote dropped to the 84th position from the 80th position he occupied in January and lost about $8 million.

On the Bloomberg list, Dangote is worth about $19 billion and is listed as an industrialist.

The top billionaires on the Forbes list are :

Aliko Dangote: $13.5bn

Johann Rupert & family: $10.7bn

Nicky Oppenheimer & family: $8.4bn

Abdulsamad Rabiu: $7.6bn

Nassef Sawiris: $7.3bn

Mike Adenuga: $6.3bn

Issad Rebrab & family: $4.6bn

Naguib Sawiris: $3.3 bn

Patrice Motsepe: $3.2bn

Mohamed Mansour: $2.9bn