Forbes has released its Africa rich list for 2015, which includes the names of the women on the continent.
Outside of the Forbes list, Destiny Connect has also listed a few wealthy women who may have slipped under the radar.
De Morgenzen Wine Estate owner, Wendy Appelbaum is listed as South Africa’s richest woman, with a net worth of around $600 million (R8.76 billion).
Along with being one of the most wealthy individuals in the country, Appelbaum also happens to be one of Africa’s most active philanthropists, having donated over US$23 million (R274 million) of her wealth to charities.
She’s the only daughter of South African business tycoon, Donald Gordon – the man behind the development of Sandton City and the namesake of the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
However, while Appelbaum may be South Africa’s richest woman, she only ranks as the fourth wealthiest woman on the African continent.
Leading the way for women on the continent is Isabel do Santos daughter of Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
She built her wealth in oil and diamonds, as well as other investments in the banking sector. She is considered the first female billionaire in Africa.
Another businesswoman who’s made wealth through oil is Famfa Oil CEO, Foloruso Alakija. The Nigerian business leader started off her career in fashion, before expanding her business interests into oil and other investments.
Here are the 10 richest women in Africa
# | Name | Source | Country | Net Worth (est.) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Isabel dos Santos | Oil, Banking | Angola | $3.4 billion |
2 | Folorunso Alakija | Oil | Nigeria | $1.7 billion |
3 | Hajia Bola Shagaya | Oil, Banking | Nigeria | $600 million |
4 | Wendy Appelbaum | Wine, Investments | South Africa | $260 million |
5 | Wendy Ackerman | Retail | South Africa | $190 million |
6 | Irene Charnley | Telecoms | South Africa | $150 million |
7 | Ngina Kenyatta | Politics | Kenya | $110 million |
8 | Bridgette Radebe | Mining | South Africa | $68.5 million |
9 | Sharon Wapnick | Law | South Africa | $43 million |
10 | Elisabeth Bradley | Investments | South Africa |