Here are the 10 youngest billionaires in Africa, according to Forbes’ 2026 Africa Billionaires ranking:
1. Mohammed Dewji — 51 — $2.1bn
Tanzanian businessman Mohammed Dewji is the youngest billionaire on Forbes’ 2026 Africa list at 51.
Dewji is the CEO of METL, a conglomerate founded by his father in the 1970s. Forbes says the company operates across textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils in eastern, southern and central Africa, with operations in 10 African countries.
Dewji, Tanzania’s only billionaire, signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, committing to donate at least half of his fortune to philanthropic causes.
2. Femi Otedola — 63 — $1.3bn
Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola ranks second among Africa’s youngest billionaires at 63, with a Forbes 2026 fortune of $1.3 billion.
Forbes says Otedola built his initial fortune in commodities before selling his shares in Forte Oil and moving into energy investments. In 2025, he sold a majority stake in Geregu Power while retaining a 5% interest.
His other investments include stakes in Zenith Bank and FBN Holdings, according to Forbes.
3. Patrice Motsepe — 64 — $4.3bn
South African mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe is 64 and has a Forbes-estimated net worth of $4.3 billion.
He founded African Rainbow Minerals and became a billionaire in 2008, becoming the first Black African to appear on the Forbes billionaires list.
Forbes also identifies Motsepe’s interests in African Rainbow Capital, Sanlam and football club Mamelodi Sundowns. He has served as president of the Confederation of African Football since 2021.
4. Nassef Sawiris — 65 — $9.6bn
Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, 65, is the wealthiest among the five billionaires aged 65 on this list, with a Forbes 2026 fortune of $9.6 billion.
Sawiris runs OCI, one of the world’s major nitrogen fertiliser producers, while also holding interests in Orascom Construction and Adidas.
Forbes says he also teamed up with Wes Edens and Fortress to acquire English Premier League club Aston Villa and holds a stake in Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers.
5. Strive Masiyiwa — 65 — $2.1bn
Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa is 65 and has a Forbes 2026 net worth of $2.1 billion.
Forbes says Masiyiwa overcame government opposition to establish Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in 1998. He owns a 38% stake in the publicly traded company and about 33% of EcoCash.
His interests also include Liquid Intelligent Technologies, fintech and power-distribution investments. Forbes notes that Masiyiwa has served on Netflix’s board since December 2020.
6. Aziz Akhannouch — 65 — $1.6bn
Moroccan businessman and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch is 65, with Forbes valuing his fortune at $1.6 billion.
Akhannouch is the majority owner of Akwa Group, a conglomerate founded by his father and his father’s business partner in 1932.
Forbes says the group has interests in petroleum, gas and chemicals, including through publicly traded Afriquia Gaz and Maghreb Oxygene. Akhannouch became Morocco’s prime minister in September 2021.
7. Yasseen Mansour — 65 — $1.4bn
Egyptian businessman Yasseen Mansour, 65, has a Forbes 2026 fortune of $1.4 billion.
He is a shareholder in the family-owned Mansour Group, which was founded by his father, Loutfy Mansour, in 1952. Forbes says the group is the exclusive distributor of General Motors vehicles and Caterpillar equipment in Egypt and several other countries.
Mansour is also chairman of Palm Hills Developments, one of Egypt’s major real estate developers. His brothers, Mohamed and Youssef Mansour, are also billionaires.
8. Abdulsamad Rabiu — 66 — $11.2bn
Nigerian industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu is 66 and has a Forbes 2026 net worth of $11.2 billion.
Rabiu founded BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in cement production, sugar refining and real estate.
Forbes says Rabiu owns 98.2% of BUA Cement and 95% of BUA Foods. He began his own business in 1988, importing iron, steel and chemicals, before building the BUA empire.
9. Aliko Dangote — 69 — $28.5bn
Africa’s richest person, Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, is 69 and has a Forbes 2026 net worth of $28.5 billion.
Dangote founded and chairs Dangote Cement, which Forbes describes as Africa’s largest cement producer. The company has annual capacity of 48.6 million metric tonnes and operates in 10 African countries.
His business interests have also expanded into fertiliser and refining, with his fertiliser plant beginning operations in 2022 and the Dangote Refinery beginning refining operations in 2024.
10. Samih Sawiris — 69 — $1.4bn
Egyptian businessman Samih Sawiris, 69, rounds out the list with a Forbes 2026 fortune of $1.4 billion.
Sawiris is the founder and chairman of Orascom Development Holding, which develops and operates resorts in Egypt, Montenegro and Switzerland.
Forbes says he and his brothers, Nassef and Naguib Sawiris, also hold stakes in publicly traded Orascom Construction, a company established by their father. Sawiris is also a founder and board member of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, which focuses on creating sustainable jobs for Egyptians.
