In 2022, the world was hit by a series of economic challenges that took a significant toll on the wealth of billionaires.
According to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes, the 500 richest billionaires lost a staggering US$1.4 trillion, the steepest drop ever recorded.
The loss can be attributed to a number of factors, including the rise in global interest rates, caused by the steep rise in inflation amid macroeconomic volatility, geopolitical tensions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and global supply chain difficulties.
These challenges also had a significant impact on African billionaires, and while three managed to defy these challenges and increase their wealth, eleven others were not as fortunate, with their net worth declining significantly due to the macroeconomic volatility, geopolitical issues, and supply chain problems that shaped the year.
Of the eleven billionaires who saw a decline in their net worth, Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa experienced the steepest loss at US$1.5 billion, followed by Ethiopia’s Mohammed Al Amoudi and Nigerian telco billionaire Mike Adenuga.
- Strive Masiyiwa
Wealth loss in 2022: US$1.5 billion
Net worth: US$1.2 billion
Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwe’s richest man, saw his net worth plummet by US$1.5 billion in 2022, from US$2.7 billion at the start of the year to US$1.2 billion at the end of the year, owing to a drop in the share prices of his publicly traded businesses on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, particularly Econet Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings.
Masiyiwa’s fortune includes a 52.85-percent stake in Econet Zimbabwe, the country’s largest telecom services provider, and a 30-percent stake in EcoCash Holdings, a diverse smart technology group that uses digital and financial technologies to create shared economies, drive financial inclusion, and promote economic empowerment.
- Mohammed Al Amoudi
Wealth loss in 2022: US$1.25 billion
Net worth: US$5.46 billion
Mohammed Al Amoudi, Ethiopia’s richest man, saw his net worth plummet by US$1.25 billion in 2022 due to a decline in the market value of his industrial assets in Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.
The majority of Al-Amoudi’s fortune comes from Preem, Sweden’s largest oil refiner, and Svenska Petroleum Exploration, another Swedish oil and gas exploration and production company.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth will fall by US$1.25 billion in 2022, from US$6.71 billion to US$5.46 billion.
- Mike Adenuga
Wealth loss in 2022: US$1.1 billion
Net worth: US$5.6 billion
Mike Adenuga, a Nigerian telecom billionaire and oil mogul, saw his net worth plummet by more than a billion dollars in 2022 as the valuation of his privately held businesses plummeted.
The billionaire businessman, who derives the majority of his fortune from his privately held telecom company, Globacom Limited, as well as his investments in the Nigerian oil industry through Conoil Producing and Conpetro Limited, saw his net worth fall by US$1.1 billion in 2022, from US$6.7 billion to US$5.6 billion at the start of the year.
- Johann Rupert
Wealth loss in 2022: US$1.03 billion
Net worth: US$10.9 billion
Johann Rupert, South Africa’s richest man, and Africa’s second-wealthiest businessman saw his net worth fall by US$1.03 billion in 2022, owing to a drop in the market capitalization of his Swiss luxury goods holding company, Compagnie Financiere Richemont (Richemont).
According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Rupert’s net worth fell by US$1.03 billion in 2022, from US$11.9 billion at the start of 2022 to US$10.9 billion.
- Natie Kirsh
Wealth loss in 2022: US$821 million
Net worth: US$7.45 billion
Nathaniel “Natie” Kirsh, the richest man in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), saw his net worth fall by US$821 million in 2022, falling from US$8.27 billion at the start of 2022 to US$7.45 billion.
The decline in his net worth can be attributed to the decline in the market value of his portfolio investments through Kirsh Group, a closely held conglomerate that owns a majority stake in Jetro Holdings, a food supply company.
- Aliko Dangote
Wealth loss in 2022: US$393 million
Net worth: US$18.7 billion
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, saw his net worth fall by US$393 million in 2022, from US$19.1 billion to US$18.7 billion.
Dangote, who ranks as the world’s richest black person, derives the majority of his fortune from an 86 percent stake in Dangote Cement, which is currently worth US$8.64 billion.
The decline in the market value of his flagship company, Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement company, is to blame for the multimillion-dollar drop in his net worth.
- Michiel Le Roux
Wealth loss in 2022: US$300 million
Net worth: US$1.4 billion
Michiel Le Roux, a South African billionaire banker, and leading businessman, saw his net worth fall by US$300 million, from US$1.7 billion to US$1.3 billion, due to a drop in the market value of his 11.41-percent stake in Capitec Bank, a Stellenbosch-based financial services provider and one of South Africa’s largest retail banks.
- Aziz Akhannouch
Wealth loss in 2022: US$300 million
Net worth: US$1.9 billion
Aziz Akhannouch, Morocco’s prime minister and a leading businessman who derives the majority of his fortune from Akwa Group, a Moroccan conglomerate with oil and gas investments, saw his net worth fall by US$300 million in 2022, from US$2.2 billion to US$1.9 billion.
- Othman Benjelloun
Wealth loss in 2022: US$300 million
Net worth: US$1.2 billion
Othman Benjelloun, Morocco’s second-richest man after Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, saw his net worth fall from US$1.5 billion to US$1.2 billion in 2022, a total loss of US$300 million.
The majority of his fortune stems from his investment in the BMCE Group, a multinational pan-African banking conglomerate with operations in 18 African countries and representative offices in Europe and Asia.
- Patrice Motsepe
Wealth loss in 2022: US$300 million
Net worth: US$2.8 billion
Patrice Motsepe, the richest Black South African, saw his net worth drop by US$300 million in 2022 as a result of his 40-percent stake in African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), a South African diversified mining and minerals company.
- Koos Bekker
Wealth loss in 2022: US$200 million
Net worth: US$2.5 billion
South African billionaire Jacobus “Koos” Bekker’s net worth fell by US$200 million in 2022, from US$2.7 billion to US$2.5 billion, due to a decline in the market value of his 0.86-percent stake in Prosus N.V. and another 0.4-percent stake in Naspers, a global internet group and one of the world’s largest technology investors and holding companies.
Source: InsiderZim
