Africa’s Wealth Keeps Growing in 2025
Last year, the richest people in Africa saw their fortunes rise by 7 %. At the same time, the number of wealthy individuals on the continent went up by 4.1 %. These figures come from Capgemini’s World Wealth Report 2026.
What Drove the Increase?
Two main factors helped boost African wealth:
- Higher prices for precious metals, especially gold.
- More long‑term investments from international companies and funds.
Global Context
Worldwide, the wealth of high‑net‑worth people grew 8.7 % to a record $98.3 trillion, and their numbers rose 7.9 %. This was the strongest annual jump in five years. For comparison, the IMF expects global GDP to be about $126.3 trillion in 2026, meaning the world’s richest own assets worth almost four‑fifths of the planet’s yearly economic output.
How Africa Stacks Up Against Other Regions
Africa’s 7 % wealth gain put it ahead of Latin America (5.1 %) and far ahead of the Middle East, where wealth actually fell by 1.5 %. The fastest‑growing region was Asia‑Pacific at 10.5 %, followed by North America (9.9 %) and Europe (8 %).
Even though Africa’s wealthy population is still small compared with other continents, it is home to some of the biggest private fortunes.
Top African Billionaires (2025)
- Aliko Dangote (Nigeria) – $28.5 billion
- Johann Rupert & family (South Africa) – $16.1 billion
- Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) – $11.2 billion
- Nicky Oppenheimer & family (South Africa) – $10.6 billion
- Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) – $9.6 billion
The Richest Keep Pulling Ahead
The report defines “high net worth” as having more than $30 million in investable assets. This group saw their wealth rise 9.7 % in 2025, outpacing:
- Middle‑class millionaires (8.7 % growth)
- Those with $1‑$5 million in assets (7.8 % growth)
Although they make up only about 1 % of all high‑net‑worth people, ultra‑high net worth individuals (those with over $30 million) hold nearly 35 % of the total wealth in that category.
Global Billionaire Leaders
According to Forbes’ real‑time rankings, the world’s top billionaires in 2025 were:
- Elon Musk – $839 billion
- Larry Page – $257 billion
- Sergey Brin – $237 billion
- Jeff Bezos – $224 billion
- Mark Zuckerberg – $222 billion
Where Are the Wealthy Putting Their Money?
Capgemini found that rich investors continued to shift money into public markets:
- Equities (stocks) rose to 25 % of portfolios, up three points.
- Fixed income (bonds) grew to 20 % as bond markets stabilized and gave the best returns since 2020.
Strong company earnings and broad market gains supported wealth creation everywhere last year.
Conclusion
Africa’s wealthy enjoyed solid growth in 2025, thanks to higher precious‑metal prices and steady foreign investment. While the continent still holds a small slice of the global wealth pie, its performance outpaced many other regions and showed that rising commodity prices and international confidence can drive prosperity for the richest Africans.
