Nigerian businessmen Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Femi Otedola have been honored in Forbes’ 2024 list of billionaires, despite Nigeria facing significant economic hurdles. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man and the world’s richest Black person, leads the pack with a staggering net worth of $13.4 billion, a figure that underscores the vast empire he’s built with Dangote Group, a key player in Nigeria and West Africa’s economic landscape.
Mike Adenuga, with his fortune standing at $6.7 billion, and Abdulsamad Rabiu, boasting a net worth of $5.2 billion, follow suit, showcasing the diverse sectors from telecommunications to manufacturing that fuel Nigeria’s growth. Femi Otedola, not far behind, marks his spot on the list with a fortune of $1.4 billion, highlighting the significant contributions of these individuals to Nigeria’s employment and wealth generation.
Globally, the billionaires’ landscape continues to evolve, with Forbes reporting a record 14 individuals joining the elite $100 billion club, a sharp rise from just one four years prior. This group alone, comprising only 0.5% of the world’s billionaires, holds a staggering 14% of all billionaire wealth, totaling $2 trillion. The total number of billionaires has also seen an uptick, reaching 2,781, who collectively boast a fortune of $14.2 trillion, marking a $2 trillion increase from the previous year.
The United States remains the stronghold for billionaires, contributing a record 813 individuals worth a combined $5.7 trillion to the list. China and India follow, with 473 and 200 billionaires, respectively, despite China’s economic challenges that saw a significant reduction in billionaire numbers and overall wealth.
Bernard Arnault of France retains his position as the wealthiest globally, with a net worth of $233 billion, primarily attributed to the success of his luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg has seen the most significant gain, with his wealth surging by $116.2 billion in a single year, thanks to Meta’s robust performance, propelling him to a net worth of $177 billion and the fourth spot on Forbes
