South Africa’s richest man, Johann Rupert, whose net worth almost peaked at $20 billion a week ago, has posted nine-month earnings of the same amount, courtesy of his luxury goods holdings, Richemont.
- Johann Rupert has achieved significant financial success through his luxury goods holdings, notably Richemont.
- Richemont recorded impressive nine-month earnings of $20 billion, driven by its thriving jewelry sector.
- The sales marked a 10% increase at constant exchange rates compared to the previous fiscal year.
- As of now, Johann Rupert’s net worth stands at $18.4 billion, reflecting a decrease from a recent peak.
For the fiscal year ending 31st, December, 2025, Richemont, the Swiss Luxury conglomerate controlled by South Africa’s richest man, Johann Rupert, posted sales of $20 billion.
This impressive sales figure was primarily propelled by the jewelry trade, which, as seen on BillionairesAfrica, continued to grow steadily throughout its retail network and remained the group’s biggest and fastest-growing company.
During the period under review, Richemont sales reached €17 billion ($20 billion) from €16.2 billion ($18.84 billion) during the same period the previous year.
These figures represent a 10 percent increase in sales at constant exchange rates and a 5 percent increase when calculated at actual rates.
Jewelry Maisons, which, as mentioned earlier, drove the record sales, brought in €4.78 billion ($5.56 billion) in Q3 of 2025.
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Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier were some of the company’s biggest products, despite Jewelry Maisons dominating the quarter with 14% growth at constant exchange rates.
Growth in the Fashion & Accessories Maisons segment was modest, increasing by 3 percent, while Specialist Watchmakers exhibited consistent improvement with a 7 percent gain.
Other categories remained largely stable, attributable to ongoing cost constraints and currency challenges.
With almost 72% of sales, retail continued to be Richemont’s came in as the company’s leading source of income.
In the third quarter of the review period, retail increased by 12% at constant rates to €4.6 billion ($5.35 billion), helped by significant gains in Europe, the Americas, Japan, and the Middle East.
The company’s varied channel approach resulted in the moderate expansion of wholesale and internet retail.
The performance highlighted above brought about a robust net cash position of €7.6 billion ($8.83 billion), for Richemont, allowing for increased investments in the face of rising material costs.
Johann Rupert nears $20 billion
Last week, data from Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index indicated that Johann Rupert was $300 million shy of the coveted $20 billion mark.
In December, his net worth, as reported by Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, was approximately $19.1 billion.
Johann Rupert began 2025 at the 171st position on the index with a net worth of $13.7 billion, and somehow managed to near $20 billion before the year’s end.
Currently, the net worth of the South African billionaire, as per Bloomberg’s index, has fallen significantly from its figures last week, standing at $18.4 billion, with a last change valuation of -$755 million and a year-to-date change of -$1.02 billion.
