Zak Calistos stake in Karooooo tops 1 billion after a 31 share price surge in 25 days, driven by strong subscription growth.
Karooooos revenue rose 8.6 to 249.87 million, fueled by its Cartrack unit serving 2.2 million users across 25 countries.
Karooooos stock is up 20.7 in 2025, rewarding investors with gains amid growing confidence in mobility tech expansion.
South African tech entrepreneur Zak Calisto has seen the value of his stake in Karooooo cross the 1 billion mark, thanks to a strong rally in the Nasdaq-listed companys stock. Investors have been responding positively to the firms recent earnings and steady growth, in its core subscription business.
Stake jumps 257 million in just 25 daysCalisto, who founded Karooooo and serves as its CEO, owns a controlling 64.81 percent of the company, roughly 20 million shares. In just the past 25 days, the value of his stake has jumped by 257.57 million, driven by a sharp rise in Karooooos share price.
That gain comes on top of an earlier 71.5 million increase between April 8 and 23 , when his holding climbed from 739.06 million to 810.57 million. The back-to-back increases have not only lifted his personal fortune but also reaffirmed his place among South Africas most prominent tech founders.
From modest beginnings to a global platformKarooooo started in 2001 as a small vehicle recovery business in South Africa. Over the years, it has grown into a major player in global mobility and fleet management.
Its main operating unit, Cartrack, now supports more than 2.2 million users across 25 countries, providing services such as real-time vehicle tracking, fleet operations, and insurance telematics.