South African The net worth of the wealthiest individuals and families is approximately $42.2 billion (about R705 billion)According to the latest data from Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.
The rankings, which track global wealth using stock prices, exchange rates and publicly available financial data, show little change in the country at the top of the rich list in recent months, although there have been further changes.
Johan Rupert remains number one
luxury goods dealer johan rupert He continues to lead the group as the richest man in South Africa.
The 75-year-old is chairman of the global conglomerate behind high-end brands including Richemont, Cartier and Montblanc.
he is followed nikki oppenheimerWhose wealth lies in his family's historical association with De Beers.
stir in the top five
There has been some reshuffle among the top five billionaires of the country.
mining entrepreneur Patrice Motsepe has reached third place by defeating coos beckerFormer Naspers chief who is now ranked fourth.
is in fifth place michael le rouxFounder of Capitec Bank.
and change below
At the bottom of the list, jenny moutonPSG Group founder takes over from retail giant Christo Wiese, Which slipped to seventh place.
The list has been rounded up Paul van ZuydamLe Creuset is known for manufacturing premium cookware brand.
money remains stable
Despite economic headwinds both locally and globally, the overall fortunes of South Africa's richest people remain resilient, largely due to their exposure to international markets and diverse global business interests.
latest data Highlight how South Africa's top billionaires are continuing to operate on the global stage – while the domestic economy continues to face pressure.
richest person in the world
On the global stage, the 54-year-old Elon Musk born in South Africa Remains on top of Forbes ranking richest person in the worldWith a reported net worth of $788.7 billion.
Below, we list the top eight richest South Africans in the world 4 May 2026.
| Post | Name | net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 195 | johan rupert | $15 billion | luxury goods |
| 310 | nikki oppenheimer | $10.6 billion | diamonds |
| 1 145 | Patrice Motsepe | $3.8 billion | mining |
| 1 228 | coos becker | $3.5 billion | media, investment |
| 1 284 | michael le roux | $3.3 billion | banking |
| 1 768 | jenny mouton | $2.4 billion | financial Services |
| 2 243 | christophel wiese | $1.9 billion | retail |
| 2 391 | Paul van Zuydam | $1.7 billion | Le Creuset |
| Total | $42.2 billion |
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