KEY POINTS
- Johann Rupert’s wealth rose $4.6 billion in 2025.
- Richemont shares climbed 20.5 percent this year.
- Credit to Richemont’s growth for boosting Rupert’s fortune.
South Africa’s richest man, Johann Rupert, has added about $4.64 billion to his wealth this year as Richemont’s share rally lifted his net worth to $18.3 billion, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The surge makes Rupert the biggest gainer among African billionaires in 2025, edging him closer to the $20 billion mark.
Richemont rally boosts Johann Rupert’s wealth
The index shows Rupert’s fortune rising from $13.7 billion at the start of the year to $18.3 billion by late October. Rupert chairs Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, the Swiss luxury goods conglomerate behind Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Montblanc. The company’s strong share performance this year has driven most of his gains.
The luxury group’s stock has jumped 20.5 percent in 2025, from CHF134.25 ($168.10) to CHF161.85 ($201.60), lifting Richemont’s market capitalisation to CHF86.83 billion ($107.7 billion). Rupert’s 10.18 percent equity stake, which carries 51 percent voting control, is now valued at roughly $12.8 billion.
Richemont’s expansion across key markets has underpinned this rally. In Europe, its jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels opened a new flagship boutique in Florence, reinforcing Richemont’s presence in major luxury hubs. The group also strengthened its position in Germany through Panerai’s first store in Stuttgart, developed with long-time partner Gerhard D. Wempe GmbH & Co. KG.
Jewelry leads Richemont’s strong performance
Richemont has maintained growth momentum despite a softer luxury spending environment. In the first quarter of its fiscal year, group sales climbed 6 percent at constant exchange rates and 2.7 percent at actual rates, from €5.27 billion ($6.12 billion) to €5.41 billion ($6.29 billion). Jewelry remained the company’s strongest segment, with brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier posting 11 percent growth to €3.91 billion ($4.55 billion).
Richemont is also introducing Vhernier, its newly acquired Italian jewelry brand, to Asia. The brand will soon open a boutique inside Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, reinforcing the group’s reach in one of the world’s most competitive luxury markets.
The watch segment underperformed, slipping 7 percent due to slower demand in China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Still, Richemont’s resilience has strengthened investor confidence, helping Rupert cement his position as Africa’s richest man and one of the most influential figures in global luxury retail.
Rupert’s growing fortune underscores how resilient brand expansion, disciplined retail strategy, and a robust jewelry portfolio continue to drive Richemont’s value, keeping it a formidable player in the luxury market.
