In a recent report by Forbes Magazine, South Africa’s Johann Rupert and his family have claimed the title of Africa’s wealthiest, surpassing Aliko Dangote in the continent’s wealth hierarchy.
Notable absenteew from the Financial Magazine’s billionaire rankings are Rabiu Abdulsamad and Mike Adenuga, both prominent Nigerian billionaires.
Aliko Dangote, who once held the top spot, now finds himself in second place on the Forbes Daily Billionaires ranking list. His fortune plummeted from $13.5 billion in 2023 to $9.5 billion at the start of 2024.
The list witnessed significant shifts in wealth, with Mike Adenuga rising to the tenth position. Meanwhile, Patrice Motsepe, previously in the top ten in 2023, failed to retain his status in 2024.
Notably, no women made it to the list of the ten wealthiest individuals at the beginning of the year.
Dangote’s diminishing wealth not only marks a personal setback but also reflects broader economic challenges across Africa. Factors such as the depreciation of the Naira and other economic issues contribute to this decline.