Swazi billionaire Natie Kirsh, known for his immense wealth and business ventures in the food supply industry, has seen his net worth skyrocket in the last five weeks, confirming his status as Eswatini’s richest person and one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals.
Kirsh’s net worth has increased by $440 million in the last five weeks, making him one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which analyzes the fortunes of the world’s 500 richest billionaires. Kirsh’s net worth has risen to $8.18 billion, from $7.74 billion on February 6.
The primary driver of this surge — which translates to an average daily gain of $12.57 million since Feb. 6 — has been the impressive performance of his 75 percent stake in Jetro Holdings, a New York-based consumer goods holding company that oversees two prominent wholesale grocery enterprises in the United States — Jetro Cash & Carry and Restaurant Depot.
Kirsh is now ranked 311th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and earns a significant amount of his wealth from private assets. His closely held company, Kirsh Group, which owns a majority stake in Jetro Holdings, is currently worth $205 million.
According to Bloomberg, the majority of Kirsh’s wealth comes from his 75 percent interest in Jetro Holdings, which is currently valued at an astonishing $5.53 billion, accounting for more than 66% of his entire $8.18 billion fortune.
In addition to Jetro Holdings, Kirsh owns 54% of Abacus Property Group, a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in Sydney. Over the last five weeks, the value of this asset has increased by $51 million, from $320 million on February 6 to $371 million.
Kirsh’s property portfolio includes major assets such as Tower 42, London’s leading office skyscraper, valued at $364 million in 2024, and Jandakot Airport in Perth, Australia. His latest surge in wealth seals his place among the world’s wealthiest people.