1. Aliko Dangote: $12.1 billion

Source of wealth: cement, sugar, flour

Aliko Dangote, a 63-year-old Nigerian billionaire is the founder and chairman of Dangote Group – Africa’s largest cement producer. Mr. Aliko Dangote owns nearly 85% of the shares of this group. 

2. Nassef Sawiris: $8 billion

Source of wealth: construction, chemicals

Billionaire Nassef Sawiris, 60, is a member of Egypt’s richest family. His brother, Naguib is also a billionaire. Sawiris took over as CEO of his father’s construction company – Orascom Construction in 1998. After that, he split the company: One focused on construction, the other became the world’s leading nitrogen fertilizer manufacturer – OCI. In 2018, Sawiris and Fortress co-founder Wes Edens bought a majority stake in British football club Aston Villa.

3. Nicky Oppenheimer and family: $8.5 billion

Source of wealth: diamonds

Nicholas F. Oppenheimer, 75 years old, is a South African businessman and philanthropist. He served as chairman of diamond mining company De Beers. In 2012, Oppenheimer sold a 40% stake in DeBeer to mining group Anglo American for $5.1 billion.

4. Johann Rupert: $7.2 billion

Source of wealth: luxury goods

South African billionaire Johann Rupert, 70, is the chairman of Swiss luxury goods company Compagnie Financiere Richemont – best known for the Cartier and Montblanc brands. 

5. Mike Adenuga: $6.3 billion

Source of wealth: telecommunications, oil

The 67-year-old Nigerian billionaire is the chairman of telecom group Globacom, which has 55 million subscribers. When he was young, he studied for an MBA in the US and had to drive a taxi to cover expenses.