Johann Rupert added 488 million in a day, pushing his 2025 net worth gains to 2.16 billionAfricas biggest billionaire gain so far.
Richemont shares have surged 14 in a month, lifting its market value to 100 billion and boosting Ruperts stake to 11.5 billion.
Richemonts 609.7 million sale of YNAP erased related debt, letting Rupert refocus the group on core luxury brands like Cartier and Chlo.
South African billionaire Johann Rupert has added another 488 million to his fortune in just 24 hours, pushing his net worth gains for the year back above 2 billion. The boost cements his position as Africas second-richest person, behind Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote .
Rupert adds 2.16 billion in 2025According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index , Ruperts net worth rose from 15.3 billion to 15.8 billion within a single day, continuing a streak that has defined his wealth gains in recent months. This jump follows an earlier 800 million gain between April 14 and May 12, when his fortune grew from 14.5 billion to 15.3 billion. Altogether, Rupert has added 2.16 billion to his wealth in 2025, the highest among African billionaires so far this year.
The main driver behind this surge is the recent rally in the share price of Richemont , the Swiss luxury group he chairs. Over the past month, Richemonts stock has climbed more than 14 percent on the SIX Swiss Exchange, lifting its market value to around 100 billion.
Ruperts Richemont stake hits 11.5 billionRupert owns a 10.18 percent stake in Richemont, the parent company of prestigious brands like Cartier, Van Cleef Arpels, and Chlo. That stake is now worth approximately 11.5 billion. Through a mix of A and B shares, he also controls 51 percent of the companys voting rightsgiving him significant influence over its direction.
The recent uptick in Richemonts share price came on the heels of a strategic sale: its long-struggling online fashion retailer, YOOX NET-A-PORTER YNAP. On April 24, Richemont finalized the sale of YNAP to MYT Netherlands Parent B.V., the company behind Mytheresa, for 609.7 million. In return, Richemont received 49.7 million Mytheresa sharesabout a third of the companys fully diluted equityand a 555 million cash payout.
