Dangote tops Forbes’ 'Africa’s billionaires' list the 7th year in a row

Aliko Dangote

Forbes has released the annual list of the richest persons in Africa and Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, is sitting on the no 1 for the 7th time in a row.

Cement and commodities tycoon has his net worth penned at $12.2billion with a staggering $100 million upgrade from last year’s net worth.

Not so far off and second on the list is South African diamond mining heir Nicky Oppenheimer with $7.7 billion, up $700 million from last year.

Also on the list are newcomers – South Africa’s Michiel Le Roux at $1.2 billion and Zimbabwean telecom mogul Strive Masiyiwa (who becomes his country’s first billionaire) at $1.7billion – oil and telecom magnate Mike Adenuga at $5.3 billion, and the two women unchanged from last year – Isabel dos Santos at $2.3 billion and Folorunsho Alakija at $1.6billion among others.

Billionaires in Africa have jumped from 21 to 23 in the past year with net worth combined at $75.4 billion up $5.4 billion from last year.