Rupert joins Dangote, Ogunlesi among African billionaires visiting Washington

Key Points

• African billionaires including Johann Rupert, Aliko Dangote, and Bayo Ogunlesi are engaging directly with global leaders, signaling growing political influence.
• Rupert played a discreet but key role in facilitating talks between Trump and South African President Ramaphosa amid strained U.S.-South Africa relations.
• African billionaires are expanding beyond business, shaping international policy and protecting continental interests amid rising global economic influence.

A number of Africa’s influential billionaires are converging in Washington, DC, for what appears to be a crucial meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Among the latest to arrive is Johann Rupert, South Africa’s richest man, joining the ranks of prominent African business leaders such as Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote and Bayo Ogunlesi, the Founding Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), who have also recently made appearances in the U.S. capital.

Rupert, renowned as South Africa’s richest man and chairman of Richemont, the Swiss luxury group behind Cartier and Montblanc, touched down in Washington at a particularly tense moment. His visit, kept mostly out of public view, coincides with delicate talks between President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to people familiar with the matter, Rupert played a quiet but important role in bringing the two leaders to the table, stepping in at a time when relations between the two countries were under serious strain.

Billionaire enters diplomatic spotlight

The trouble began with Trump’s Feb. 7 executive order cutting all U.S. funding to South Africa. That decision had an immediate impact on the country’s healthcare system, pulling critical support for HIV and tuberculosis programs. It came just days after the U.S. granted refugee status to 49 white South African farmers, igniting debate over land reform and accusations of reverse discrimination. For Rupert, who is Afrikaans and has deep ties to South Africa’s wine and farming industries, the controversy hit close to home.

People close to him say Rupert was unsettled by Trump’s framing of Afrikaners as victims, a narrative that risks distorting a far more complex issue and undermining South Africa’s efforts to address land inequality. Rather than staying on the sidelines, Rupert is said to have urged the U.S. president to approach the issue with more care, to see it in context, and to respect South Africa’s internal process of balancing justice with stability.

This isn’t the first time Rupert has stepped into a political role, but it may be the most visible. His presence in Washington underscores how some business leaders are now moving beyond boardrooms to play a part in international affairs. It reflects a broader shift: African billionaires are increasingly using their platforms not just to grow companies, but to help shape how their countries are seen and treated on the world stage.

Africa’s elite step onto world stage

Days earlier, Dangote and Ogunlesi had their own “brief” moment with Trump, this time in Doha, Qatar. The exchange, captured on video and widely shared online, showed Dangote smiling as he greeted the U.S. president. The setting, complete with fighter jets and a fleet of Cybertrucks, gave the meeting the air of a global summit, even if the conversation itself was short.

Ogunlesi, a key figure in global infrastructure investment through his New York-based firm, Global Infrastructure Partners, was also part of the gathering. With major holdings in airports, energy, and transportation, his presence brought weight to the event. A former Goldman Sachs board member, Ogunlesi is one of the few African investors whose influence spans both Wall Street and emerging markets.

Taken together, these visits are part of a broader story. Africa’s wealthiest figures are no longer content to watch from the sidelines. They’re stepping into rooms once reserved for heads of state, looking to shape policy, protect their interests, and speak for a continent whose economic influence continues to grow.

African billionaires increasing global roles

For Dangote, the stakes are practical. The U.S. is a key market for his fertilizer business, and despite global trade tensions, he has made clear that his exports to America remain steady. In a statement ahead of the Doha meeting, he said tariffs hadn’t disrupted shipments, a reminder that, behind the politics, business continues.

But it’s Rupert’s quiet visit to Washington that could matter most. With his wealth, deep understanding of global affairs, and strong connections in both South Africa’s government and business circles, he’s well-positioned to help ease tensions. It’s not yet clear whether he can make a difference, but his presence alone marks a change, African billionaires are stepping into more visible roles on the world stage.