Table of Contents
Key Points
- Koos Bekker's net worth rises to $3.2 billion, boosted by stakes in Naspers and Prosus, making him one of Africa's wealthiest individuals.
- Bekker gains $200 million in a week as Naspers and Prosus stocks surge by over 17% and 14%, respectively.
- Tencent’s stock rally, fueled by AI integration, boosts Bekker’s holdings in Naspers and Prosus, driving up his wealth.
South African billionaire Koos Bekker, renowned for turning a $34 million investment in Tencent, the leading Chinese gaming publisher, into a stake worth over $140 billion, has seen his net worth climb to $3.2 billion, solidifying his place among Africa’s wealthiest individuals.
According to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list, Bekker, 72, who is credited with transforming Naspers from a South African newspaper publisher into a major player in e-commerce and cable TV, has added $200 million to his fortune in just a week. His net worth rose from $3 billion to $3.2 billion as of the time this report was drafted.
Bekker gains $200 million as Naspers and Prosus stocks hit highs
The $200-million windfall is tied to Bekker’s stakes in Africa’s most valuable company, Naspers, and its Amsterdam-based subsidiary, Prosus. Since last Tuesday, shares of both companies have risen sharply—by more than 17 percent on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and 14 percent on Euronext Amsterdam, respectively.
The surge in Naspers' stock, which hit an all-time high, and Prosus’ rise to its highest point since February 2021, are closely tied to developments surrounding Tencent, where Prosus holds a 24.3 percent stake. Tencent’s shares, traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, have gained more than 17 percent since Tuesday.
The jump in Tencent’s stock comes amid growing excitement over its integration of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) model into WeChat. This innovation has sparked optimism among investors, especially as several Chinese service providers embrace it. Additionally, Tencent's stock price has surged over 70 percent in the past year, fueled by a strong run of game releases.
Tencent’s rise boosts Bekker’s holdings
The rally in Tencent’s shares is part of a larger trend where Chinese tech companies are drawing renewed investor interest.
A recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, e-commerce giant Jack Ma, and senior leaders from Tencent, Xiaomi, Huawei, DeepSeek, BYD, and CAT highlighted government support for the tech sector. This support, coupled with a surge in Hong Kong equities driven by AI advancements, has added momentum to the rally.
As a result, the positive sentiment around Tencent and Naspers has lifted their share prices, benefiting Bekker, who serves as chairman and is one of the top shareholders of both companies. His 0.93 percent stake in Naspers, which amounts to 1,687,887 shares, and his 0.76 percent stake in Prosus, totaling 19,646,498 shares, have both seen notable increases.
The combined value of these stakes has grown from $375 million and $818 million to $445 million and $933 million, respectively.
