South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s fortune jumps to $3.2 billion

Key Points

• South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s net worth has risen to $3.2 billion, fueled by a rally in African Rainbow Minerals shares.
• Motsepe’s 45.9% stake in ARM surged in value as the miner’s stock gained over 10% in a month, lifting its market cap to $2.13 billion.
• Through African Rainbow Capital, Motsepe holds a major stake in Tyme Group and backs Lesaka Technologies’ $85 million acquisition of Adumo.

South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe has added $200 million to his fortune over the past two months, with his net worth climbing above $3.2 billion. The gain comes as shares of his mining company, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), rallied on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), driven by renewed investor interest in mining stocks.

Motsepe’s net worth up $200 million

Motsepe, who made history in 2008 as the first Black African to appear on Forbes’ list of billionaires, remains the richest Black person in Southern Africa. According to Forbes estimates, his wealth rose from $3 billion in mid-March to $3.2 billion by late May.

This latest increase builds on an earlier $300 million jump in his net worth between late February and mid-March, when shares of Harmony Gold—where Motsepe holds an indirect 11.8 percent stake—rose sharply. The gold mining company operates in South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.

Patrice Motsepe’s ARM stake nears $1 billion

But while Harmony Gold helped boost his wealth earlier in the year, the more recent gains are largely due to ARM, Motsepe’s flagship company. As the group’s largest shareholder, he owns a 45.9 percent stake—roughly 103.1 million shares. On April 7, he pocketed a $25.4 million interim dividend from ARM, part of a total payout of R1.01 billion ($55.49 million).

After a slow start to the year, ARM shares have bounced back. Over the past month, the stock has climbed more than 10 percent, pushing its year-to-date gain to 11.38 percent. That rebound has lifted ARM’s market capitalization to $2.13 billion and brought the value of Motsepe’s stake to nearly $1 billion, contributing significantly to his current net worth.

ARC builds Patrice Motsepe’s fintech empire

In addition to his mining interests, Motsepe has steadily widened his investment footprint through African Rainbow Capital (ARC), a vehicle he uses to invest in sectors like fintech and renewable energy. These moves reflect his broader focus on long-term value and innovation.

One of his standout bets has been Tyme Group, a digital banking firm based in Singapore with operations in Africa and Southeast Asia. A recent report by Billionaires.Africa revealed that Motsepe’s indirect 40 percent stake in Tyme is now worth around $600 million. That valuation followed Tyme’s $250 million Series D funding round in December 2024, which boosted the company’s value to $1.5 billion.

ARC has also backed Lesaka Technologies, which is listed on the NASDAQ. Earlier this year, Lesaka completed its R1.59 billion ($85 million) acquisition of Adumo, a payment processing firm. The deal fits into ARC’s broader mission to drive financial inclusion and support high-impact investments across the continent.