Patrice Motsepe has moved ahead of media tycoon Koos Bekker to claim the position of South Africa’s third-richest individual, as shifting market valuations reshaped the country’s wealth rankings. According to Forbes’ real-time estimates, Motsepe’s net worth now stands at $3.9 billion, placing him narrowly ahead of Bekker after a volatile trading session.
At the time of assessment, both billionaires were valued at roughly the same level. However, Forbes’ live data shows Motsepe gaining $33.3 million in the past 24 hours, while Bekker’s fortune declined by $48.5 million. The change lifted Motsepe to 1,035th place on the global rich list, with Bekker slipping to 1,041st.
Motsepe’s wealth remains deeply rooted in the mining sector. He made history in 2008 as Africa’s first Black billionaire and continues to anchor his fortune through African Rainbow Minerals, where he holds a 45.9 percent stake. He also maintains an indirect 11.8 percent interest in Harmony Gold, a position dating back to the company’s merger with Avmin in 2003.
Recent market movements modestly favored Motsepe’s portfolio. Shares of African Rainbow Minerals rose 0.86 percent, offsetting a 0.82 percent dip in Harmony Gold. Together, these shifts were enough to push his net worth higher and secure his new ranking. Only Nicky Oppenheimer and Johann Rupert now rank above him locally.
Bekker’s fortune, by contrast, is more exposed to global market swings. Widely regarded as a pioneer of South Africa’s modern media industry, he helped lay the foundation for M-Net and later MultiChoice. His wealth is largely tied to Naspers and its Amsterdam-listed subsidiary, Prosus, where he owns stakes of 0.93 percent and 0.76 percent respectively.
In the latest trading session, Naspers shares fell 3.5 percent, while Prosus declined 2.2 percent, pulling Bekker’s net worth back below the $4 billion mark he had only recently crossed.
The reshuffle highlights how closely the country’s richest fortunes track daily market movements. Motsepe benefited from relative stability in mining stocks, while Bekker felt the impact of declines in technology and media-linked assets. While rankings may shift again as markets move, the latest data places Motsepe firmly in third place, edging closer to the $4 billion milestone.
