…tycoon’s wealth jumps 46% after landmark $29bn deal
South African billionaire Nathan Kirsh has overtaken Nigeria’s Abdul Samad Rabiu as Africa’s fastest wealth creator in 2026, after a landmark $29.1 billion deal boosted his fortune and reshaped the continent’s billionaire rankings.
Data compiled by BusinessDay from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index shows that Kirsh’s net worth rose by 46.2 percent, between February 20 and June 8, making him the biggest wealth gainer among Africans tracked by the index during the period.
The jump marks a notable shift in Africa’s billionaire landscape. While the continent’s wealth rankings have traditionally been driven by gains in listed companies, commodities and industrial expansion, Kirsh’s rise demonstrates the growing role of mergers, acquisitions and strategic exits in creating and unlocking billionaire wealth.
Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group, ranked second with a 42.3 percent increase in wealth, while Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, posted an 11.9 percent gain over the same period.
