It is challenging to establish a family legacy. It needs the intelligence, competitive drive, and determination to maintain wealth and pass it down from one generation to the next and making one’s bloodline a powerful influence. There are many wealthy people out there, yet not in the spotlight. From commerce to entertainment, politics, and religion meet the top 16 Africa’s richest families in no particular order, who are actually the richest in their individual countries.
The Dos Santos Family–Angola
The dos Santos family has expanded their scope from oil to mining, banking, immobilization, cement, retail, sports, some trade areas, and acquisitions. The center of focus is the 75-year-old José Eduardo dos Santos. He was the Angolan president for 37 years, and he is worth US$3.5 billion. The family also boasts Isabel dos Santos, also referred to as Africa’s richest woman. She has a net worth of US$2.2 billion.
The group operates banks, telecommunications, cement mills, a grocery chain, restaurants, and casinos. In Angola, Portugal, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, Isabel dos Santos have a substantial investment base. Other prominent figures in the family, the banker and investor are José Filomeno de Sousa dos Santos, a media guru, Welwitschia José dos Santos Pego (Tchizé), and José Paulino dos Santos, popularly known as ‘Coréon Dú.
The Rupert Family–South Africa
In 1941, the Rupert family became one of the richest and most powerful families globally, with a substantial billion-dollar business empire. The Ruperts have a net worth of over US$5.4 billion. They own premium labels under Richemont’s brand, like the notorious Mont Blanc, Cartier, and Dunhill. Besides premium brands and cigars, the family controls about a fifth of the wine market in South Africa and close to 80 percent of all brandy sales in the beer industry area. Remgro, once Rembrandt S.A., now owns the Mediclinic, a business that is one of the largest pharmaceutical brands in South Africa and some other African countries.
The Oppenheimer Family–South Africa
If diamonds are forever, then Oppenheimer’s wealth is indeed eternal. The South Africa family is a household name in diamonds, gold, and platinum mining. In Kimberley, South Africa, what began as a dealer job for Ernest Oppenheimer became a mining company whose riches and strength reigned worldwide for decades. The family is worth US$7.4 billion. Although the family has sold most of the mining companies’ shares, the wealth and influence remain.
The Dangote Family–Nigeria
Aliko Dangote originates from a top Nigerian business family. He is the grandchild of the once wealthiest African, Alhaji Alhassan Dantata until he died in 1955. Aliko, an ethnic Kano Muslim, was born into an affluent Muslim family on 10 April 1957. For a decade now, Aliko Dangote has been the richest man in Africa, with a net value of US$12.1 billion. Dangote started by selling items like sugar, salt, and flour. His firm, Dangote Cement, mostly created his wealth. He owns the Dangote Group in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Tanzania, Zambia, and Benin and Cameroon’s countries.
The Ibru Family–Nigeria
The Ibru family is a wealthy family that owns the multi-billion Ibru Organization. Some key names the Ibru family boasts are the late Felix Ibru, Goodie Ibru, president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Alex Ibru. He once served as Minister for Internal Affairs in Nigeria and founded the Guardian Newspaper.
Olorogun Michael Christopher Ibru is probably the most prominent Ibru. Michael Ibru’s net worth hovers around US$1.1 billion. Ruta, the only dealer of Mazda, Tata, and the Jeep vehicles at one point, was recognized to have the first black-owned frozen fish company, car distribution, and marketing company. Whatever the succession controversial rumors may be, Aero Contractors Airlines, Sheraton, and Ikeja Hotels Plc, among others that he owns, maintain their position as one of Nigeria’s largest companies.
The Kenyatta Family–Kenya
The name ‘Kenyatta’ affects commerce and leadership, having produced two presidents of Kenya—the first Kenyan president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta. The Kenyatta family’s fame is arguably extensive in the East African Region, with many of their members having a net worth above US$500 million—one of them rated to have a whopping US$1 billion.
The family commands many businesses from the dairy to hospitals, media, and banking industries both in Kenya and abroad. Brookside Dairy, Heritage Hotels, and Mediamax Group are among their several significant developments. They own approximately 25% of the stock of the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA).
The Mohammed VI family-Morocco
Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, is the top entrepreneur and banker in Egypt. His family holds the majority stakes in the Société Nationale d’Investissement (SNI), an initially state-owned company, but was merged in 2013 with Omnium Nord Africain (ONA Group) to form a single holding company that took off as the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The Royal Family of Morocco has some of the greatest fortunes in the world. In 2015, Forbes magazine estimated Mohammed VI to be worth US$8.2 billion.
The Tinubu family-Nigeria
The hereditary head of the Tinubu family is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, known colloquially as Jagaban. He is a Nigerian politician who served as Lagos State Governor and with a net worth of US$3 billion as of 2021. Tinubu has a rising list of Lagos and Abuja assets, including Banana Island.
The Bakhresa Family–Tanzania
From Tanzania to Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique, Azam and Bakhresa Group’s brands dominate the food, beverage, and plastics industries. Said Salim Bakhresa started the group. What originated as a local restaurant became a superpower for the continent. Said’s sons, Mohammed and Abubakar, currently manage the Bakhresa Company with sales of approximately US$1billion a year. The Azam Group is also interested in oil and runs a football team called Azam, one of Tanzania’s largest soccer clubs.
The Sawiris Family-Egypt
The Sawiris family is a Coptic family that owns the Orascom company, which includes telecommunications and tourism sectors. Forbes estimated Onsi Sawiris, the family’s patriarchal head, to be at $1.1 billion as of 2018. His three sons manage several businesses in the company—Nassef Sawiris, Naguib Sawiris (both ranked as Egypt’s top two wealthiest people at an estimated net worth of $7.5 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively, as of 2021), and Samih Sawiris, who is worth US$850 million.
The Mansour family-Egypt
Mohammed Mansour is the Mansour Group conglomerate owner, which holds the sole distribution rights in Egypt for Caterpillar equipment, GM vehicles, and the McDonald’s franchises. They get most of their profits from abroad. As Egypt’s third-richest man, Forbes estimated him at US$2.5 billion in net value as of 2021. Youssef and Yasseen Mansour, his brothers, are also some of the wealthiest people in Egypt, with net values of US$1,5 billion and US$1,1 billion, respectively. They have exclusive rights for Caterpillar sales in six African countries and Russia.
The Chandaria family-Kenya
Kenyan-born Manu Chandaria is the chairperson of Comcraft Group, a multinational industrial conglomerate with over 40 countries. At first, the firm owned by his family began as an aluminum ware company before taking over managed its tremendous development in the Sub-Saharan region. Forbes estimated Comcraft to be worth US$1.7 billion as of 2020. His children, Darshan and Neer, also manage the Chandaria Group. The company is the largest retailer in East Africa, selling hygienic products. It also has investments in the sectors of estates, mining, and automobile production.
The Ruparelia Family-Uganda
Sudhir Ruparelia is the founder of Ruparelia Group, one of Uganda’s largest conglomerates. Born in Kampala, Uganda, Sudhir started building his empire by importing beer and salt from Kenya and subsequently started a foreign exchange bureau which laid the foundation for his entry into commercial banking. Ruparelia created the Crane Forex Bureau and formed Crane Bank in 1995 with a string of Speke resort hotels and country clubs. The family holds over 300 commercial and residential properties through the Ruparelia Group.
Although Uganda has over 500 billionaires, Sudhir Ruparelia’s family is the richest in Uganda, with a net worth of over US$1.2 billion, which is over 3.7 trillion Ugandan Shillings. He admits he owns a fourth of the buildings in Kampala’s Central Business District. The trillionaire also ventured into the education sector, where he owns schools including Victoria University, Kampala, which he acquired in 2013.
The Nguema Family–Equatorial Guinea
The Nguema family is one of the most influential and wealthiest families in West Africa. The family comprises Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Africa’s longest-serving president, his son, Teodorin, the country’s vice president, and other relatives who served as ministers and government leaders. However, in 2012, the French authorities confiscated several of Teodorin’s luxurious properties valued at almost 350 million dollars, which led to the inference that the family is worth more. The Nguema family’s financial values are hard to ascertain. Forbes estimated Teodoro Obiang’s net worth to be at US$600 million in 2020—but they retrieved the claim on 25 September 2020.
The Bushiri Family–Malawi
Founders of churches are some of Africa’s most instrumental individuals. One of the prestigious names is Malawian-born, South Africa-based prophet and entrepreneur Shepherd Bushiri. From mining, oil, real estate, hospitality, and transportation, the evangelist has accumulated wealth. He is said to generate wealth from his work as an author, motivational speaker, and evangelist. With an estimated wealth of US$150 million, Bushiri and Mary, his partner, have over 2.5 million followers jointly on social media, making them one of the most influential couples on the continent.
They also own a mining company, a mobile telecommunications network called PSB, a TV station that broadcasts across the continent, and SB University, which has campuses in South Sudan and South Africa. Prophet Bushiri’s brother, Otis, also mans a mega-church in Cape Town, South Africa. In contrast, Mary’s brother, Duncan, popularly known as ‘Gwamba,’ controls a Malawi beverage plant. In a short video below, he showed off some of his assets, claiming that he does not get his wealth from his church followers and finances governments.
All net values are determined using publicly available evidence. Besides, this information includes personal insights and reviews from personalities or their agents. Although we are carefully working to ensure our figures’ exactness, they are only approximate unless otherwise shown. Any updates and reviews are welcome.
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