Aliko Dangote's estimated net worth has climbed to $35.2 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index figures, cementing his position as Africa's wealthiest person and pushing him from 92nd to 65th on the global rich list.

The $5.27 billion increase recorded in 2026 has been driven largely by the performance of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos and Dangote Cement, both of which have gained considerably this year.

How the refinery fuelled the wealth surge

The $20 billion Lagos refinery reached full operating capacity weeks before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, according to a New York Times report.

The timing proved significant. The conflict disrupted global fuel supplies, prompting international buyers to turn to alternative sources, and the Nigerian facility stepped in to fill part of that gap.

S&P Global Energy data showed the refinery was the world's largest single exporter of jet fuel in April and May.

A senior Dangote Industries executive said the facility had also become Europe's largest supplier of jet fuel and diesel by July, and it exported jet fuel to the United States for the first time this year.

The disruption has been compounded by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil shipments, as well as attacks on Russian refineries and tankers that have affected pe-troleum product flows into Africa.

A New York Times report highlighted how these events exposed Africa's deep reliance on im-ported refined fuel, noting that East African countries sourced more than 65% of their refined pe-troleum products from the Middle East last year.

Cement shares and IPO plans add to Dangote's fortune

Dangote Cement shares have also contributed meaningfully to the rise in wealth this year.

Nairametrics reported that the company's stock climbed from N609 at the start of 2026 to N1,034 on August 19, increasing the value of Dangote's stake in the business.

Reuters reported last week that the Dangote Refinery secured a $1 billion underwriting pro-gramme ahead of a planned initial public offering, which could rank among the largest stock mar-ket listings ever seen on the African continent.

Investor interest has grown as the refinery's export volumes expand in a disrupted global market.

Billionaire wealth estimates shift daily, shaped by share price movements, currency fluctuations, and the valuations placed on privately held assets, meaning the figures can change rapidly.

Otedola's wealth soars to 10-year high

Femi Otedola's personal fortune has climbed back to its highest point in nearly a decade after First HoldCo Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria, broke through the N6 trillion market capitalisation barrier for the first time in Nigerian banking history.

Forbes' real-time billionaire tracker put Otedola's net worth at $1.8 billion. That figure matches wealth levels he last recorded in 2018 and represents a rise of roughly $700 million.