KEY POINTS
- Capitec Bank shares added $1.1 billion to Le Roux wealth.
- Rand strength amplified investor gains in dollar terms.
- Banking stocks led renewed JSE investor interest.
South African billionaire Michiel Le Roux added about $1.1 billion to his personal fortune in 2025 as Capitec Bank shares climbed sharply, benefiting from renewed investor interest in domestic banking stocks and a stronger rand.
Le Roux, a co-founder of Capitec more than two decades ago, owns an 11.36 percent stake in the retail lender, equivalent to roughly 13.19 million shares. The value of that holding increased by about R13.89 billion during the year, reflecting both rising share prices and currency appreciation that amplified gains in dollar terms.
Capitec’s stock price stood out on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as investors returned to South African banks because their earnings were solid, their balance sheets were strong, and their feelings about local assets were better.
Capitec Bank shares drive Le Roux gains
Capitec was founded in March 2001 by Le Roux alongside Jannie Mouton and Riaan Stassen, with a focus on simplified, low-cost banking. What started off as a small company has developed into a major retail lender that serves millions of people in South Africa.
The bank today has more than 850 locations and roughly 7,400 ATMs around the country. This vast reach has helped the bank keep its customers and profits steady. Even if South Africa’s economy has had certain problems, such growth has helped keep investors’ faith.
In 2025, Capitec Bank shares went up 33.57 percent in rand, going from R3,136.55 at the start of the year to R4,189.50. The advance was one of the best performances in the country’s financial industry.
Capitec Bank shares benefit from rand strength
Currency movements further boosted returns. As the rand firmed against the U.S. dollar, Capitec Bank shares gained about 50.25 percent in dollar terms, rising from roughly $190.20 in January to about $254.06 later in the year.
Billionaires Africa says that shift lifted the dollar value of Le Roux’s stake from approximately $2.21 billion to about $3.32 billion. Other shareholders also benefited. A $100,000 investment in Capitec at the start of the year would now be worth roughly $150,360.
In a market often shaped by volatility, Capitec’s steady operating performance and scale have reinforced its status as one of the most closely watched banking stocks on the JSE.
