The Forbes 2011 Billionaires List was recently released. Topping this year’s ranking of 1,210 billionaires is Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu. The telecom mogul, who earns 62% of his fortune from America Movil, is now worth US$74 billion and way ahead of his two closest rivals. Bill Gates, No. 2, and Warren Buffett, No. 3, both added a more modest $3 billion to their piles and are now worth $56 billion and $50 billion, respectively.
A number of African business people also made this year’s list, here are the top 10. Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man according to Forbes.
1. Aliko Dangote - Nigeria
Net worth: $13.8 billion
Source of wealth: Sugar, flour, cement, inherited and growing
2. Nicky Oppenheimer & family - South Africa
Net worth: $7 billion
Source of wealth: De Beers, inherited
3. Nassef Sawiris - Egypt
Net worth: $5.6 billion
Source of wealth: Construction, inherited and growing
4. Johann Rupert & family - South Africa
Net worth: $3.3 billion
Source of wealth: Mining, self-made
5. Naguib Sawiris - Egypt
Net worth: $3.5 billion
Source of wealth: Telecom, inherited and growing
6. Patrice Motsepe - South Africa
Net worth: $4.8 billion
Source of wealth: Luxury goods, inherited and growing
7. Onsi Sawiris - Egypt
Net worth: $2.9 billion
Source of wealth: Construction, self-made
8. Mohamed Mansour - Egypt
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Cotton trading, inherited and growing
9. Mike Adenuga - Nigeria
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Banking, self-made
10.Yasseen Mansour - Egypt
Net worth: $1.8 billion
Source of wealth: Diversified, inherited and growing