South Africa’s richest man gains $800 million in less than a month

Key Points

• Rupert’s wealth jumps $800 million in 28 days, boosting his net worth to $15.3 billion and strengthening his position as Africa’s second-richest billionaire.
• Richemont shares soar over 30 percent, driving Rupert’s fortune higher as the luxury group’s market value approaches the $100 billion mark.
• Richemont exits YNAP in a $609.7 million deal, refocusing on core luxury brands after selling to Mytheresa’s parent company.

South Africa’s richest man, Johann Rupert, has seen his wealth grow by $800 million in the past 28 days, strengthening his position as Africa’s second-richest billionaire. This boost brings his year-to-date net worth increase to $1.67 billion, making him the only African billionaire whose fortune has grown by over $1.5 billion in 2025, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Rupert’s wealth climbs to $15.3 billion

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the wealth of the world’s 500 richest individuals, shows that Rupert’s net worth grew from $14.5 billion on Apr. 14 to $15.3 billion by the time of this report. This $800 million increase follows a previous gain of $1.3 billion from Apr. 10 to 14, when his net worth rose from $13.2 billion to $14.5 billion.

The surge in Rupert’s fortune is largely tied to the impressive rally in Richemont’s stock price. Rupert’s main source of wealth comes from his 10.18 percent stake in the Swiss luxury giant, which owns high-end brands like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Chloé. Over the past month, Richemont’s share price on the SIX Swiss Exchange has climbed more than 30 percent, pushing the company’s market capitalization closer to the $100 billion mark.

Richemont exits YNAP, refocuses core brands

The recent rise in Richemont’s share price follows the company’s sale of the underperforming online retailer YOOX NET-A-PORTER (YNAP) to MYT Netherlands Parent B.V., the parent company of Mytheresa, for $609.7 million. The deal, finalized on Apr. 24, marks a key shift in the digital luxury market. Richemont received 49.7 million Mytheresa shares, about 33 percent of its fully diluted share capital, along with a net cash payment of €555 million ($609.7 million).

Following regulatory approvals, the sale closed with YNAP rebranded as LuxExperience B.V., now trading under the ticker symbol “LUXE.” The deal leaves Richemont with no debt tied to the transaction and no remaining operational control. Free from the burdens of YNAP, Richemont can now sharpen its focus on its core luxury brands, while Mytheresa looks to expand its foothold in the fast-evolving online luxury market.