It’s one thing to be a billionaire in say, Zimbabwean dollars.  It’s quite another to be a billionaire in US dollars.  The 2011 Forbes list of wealthiest people, released this week, includes four South African US dollar billionaires out of a total of 14 Africans on the rich list. Here’s the line-up of our wealthiest locals…

1. Nicky Oppenheimer and family – $7 billion

The chairman of the world’s largest diamond producer, De Beers, and his family top the list of wealthiest South Africans and appear at 136 overall on the international list.

2. Johan Rupert – $4.8 billion

The owner of Swiss luxury group Richemont is number two in SA and 219 overall.

3. Patrice Motsepe – $3,3 billion

South Africa’s first black billionaire in US dollars, the Soweto-born mining tycoon is number 336 on the international wealthiest list, and number three locally.

4. Christo Wiese – $1.6-billion

A newcomer to the Forbes list, Wiese is chairman of Africa’s largest retailer, Shoprite and is the 782nd wealthiest man in the world. Not bad for your first year.

Via TimesLive