Africa's fastest growing billionaires 2026

Two Nigerian businessmen are leading African billionaires' wealth growth in 2026. They are Aliko Dangote and his compatriot Abdul Samad Rabiu.

According to Bloomberg, as of 15 January 2026, Dangote's wealth has increased by $451 million to reach $30.4 billion in just two weeks. He is Africa's richest person and the 79th in the world.

Next to him in the wealth growth is another Nigerian, 65-year-old Abdul Samad Rabiu, whose net worth grew by $328 million in the first two weeks of 2026 to reach $10.8 billion. He is the fourth richest person in Africa and 337th globally, according to Bloomberg.

Both Dangote and Rabiu are from the northern Nigerian city of Kano.

Aliko Dangote, 68, has, in recent years, expanded his Dangote Group's businesses to include oil refining and fertilizer production across Africa, in addition to cement and food.

On his part, Rabiu's BUA Group is a multinational company specialising in food, cement, real estate, and infrastructure development, as well as mining businesses.

Other African billionaires whose wealth has grown since the beginning of 2026 include Africa's second richest person, John Rupert from South Africa, who added $70.9 million to his fortunes to reach $19.5 billion.

The third richest person in the continent, Naguib Sawiris of Egypt, now has $10.8 billion as his net worth after a $173 million addition, while South Africa's Natie Kirsh got $289 million more wealth to hit $10 billion net worth. He is the fifth richest person in Africa.

Bloomberg's Billionaires Index tracks the world's richest people, measuring wealth based on market changes and stakes in publicly traded companies.

Despite billionaires' growth, global income inequality is rising, with economists and the UN calling for better wealth distribution.

The World Inequality Report says the top 10% of the world's population owned 75% of entire global wealth in 2025. World Population Review data shows South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, and Colombia have the highest inequality.

The problem in Southern Africa is largely due to the legacy of apartheid rule, concentrating wealth among the White minority at the expense of the Black majority. Though apartheid ended in 1994, its impacts persist.