Table of Contents
Key Points
- Johann Rupert’s net worth rises by $1.3 billion in five days, recovering from recent losses, bringing his fortune to $14.5 billion.
- The surge follows a tariff pause announcement by President Trump, boosting Richemont shares by 5% and restoring Rupert’s wealth.
- Rupert ranks 148th on Bloomberg’s billionaire list, with significant investments in Richemont, Reinet, Remgro, FirstRand, and $2.33 billion in cash.
South Africa’s richest person, Johann Rupert, has seen a rebound in his fortune, adding $1.3 billion to his net worth over the past five days. This includes gains recorded between the market’s opening last Thursday and Friday, helping him recover from previous losses.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the world’s 500 wealthiest people, Rupert, chairman of Swiss luxury group Richemont, has watched his fortune rise from $13.2 billion on April 10 to $14.5 billion as of this report.
Richemont recovery reverses wealth decline
The latest surge comes after a tough stretch that saw his wealth slide from a peak of $17 billion on March 4 to $13.2 billion—his lowest level since December 2024. That decline was driven by market turmoil following U.S. tariffs announced by President Trump.
But with the $1.3 billion bounce in recent days, Rupert has not only erased earlier losses, but now holds a year-to-date gain of $813 million. That’s a sharp turnaround from the $470 million deficit he faced at the start of trading last Thursday.
The recent rebound in his fortune is tied to his 10.18 percent stake in Richemont, the company behind luxury brands like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Chloé. Thanks to his combination of “A” and “B” shares, Rupert controls 51 percent of the company’s voting rights.
Rupert’s wealth rises on tariff pause
Richemont shares have jumped more than 5 percent since President Trump’s surprise announcement on Wednesday of a three-month pause on most tariffs, excluding those targeting China.
The decision gave a shot of confidence to global markets. Wall Street rallied, and major indexes across Europe and Asia followed suit. Richemont’s valuation climbed back above $80 billion, lifting the value of Rupert’s stake from $9.3 billion to $10.5 billion.
With that gain, he now ranks as the 148th richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg. Forbes also revised his position, moving him up to 183rd from 192nd on Friday.
Rupert among Africa’s most liquid billionaires
In addition to Richemont, Rupert has sizable investments in Reinet Investments, Remgro, and FirstRand—together worth about $1.7 billion. He also holds an estimated $2.33 billion in cash, placing him among the most liquid billionaires in Africa.
