According to Forbes, for the tenth year in a row, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is the richest person on the African continent, worth 12.1 billion, an increase of 2 billion over last year's (2020) list, thanks to an increase of approximately 30% in the share price of Dangote Cement, by far his most valuable asset.

The second richest is Nassef Sawiris of Egypt, whose largest asset is a nearly 6% stake in the manufacturer of equipment, clothing and other sporting goods, Adidas.

Forbes names Nicky Oppenheimer as the third richest person in Africa. Nicky Oppenheimer, a South African national, inherited a stake in the De Beers diamond company and ran the company until 2012, when he sold his family's 40% stake in De Beers to mining giant Anglo American for 5.1 billion.

Who stands out on this list as this year's biggest winner is another Nigerian cement tycoon, Abdulsamad Rabiu who saw his shares in BUA Cement PLC, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in January 2020, double in value last year which increased his fortune by 77% to move to 5.5 billion.

Forbes points out that in Africa, as in other parts of the world, the wealthiest have come through the pandemic very well.