The Forbes Africa’s billionaires list for the year 2017 features 21 Africans living in Africa as opposed to the previous 50 Africans from all around the world.
The 21 billionaires on this year’s list, have a combined worth of $70 billion.
Nigeria’s business tycoon Aliko Dangote retains his position as Africa’s richest person for the sixth year running with a $12.1 billion fortune, despite a nearly $5 billion drop in his net worth for the second year in a row.
Aside Dangote, there are only two other Nigerian billionaires on this year’s list – telecom tycoon Mike Adenuga, who is Africa’s third richest person with an estimated $5.8 billion fortune, and oil billionaire Folorunsho Alakija, who has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.
Two Nigerians dropped off the Billionaires List this year – oil marketer Femi Otedola, whose net worth dropped from $1.6 billion in November 2015 to $330 million today, and sugar billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu, whose net worth dropped below $1 billion in the wake of a weakened Nigerian currency.
