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It’s that time of the year again, when lists start doing the rounds ranking the world’s wealthiest people.

Britain’s Sunday Times recently rounded up the 1 000 wealthiest people in or with ties to the country, which includes those who aren’t necessarily British.

This means that a number of South Africans made the cut, a few of whom ranked within the top 50.

The Citizen looked into how South Africa’s wealthiest fared.

Let’s start with the three highest-ranking individuals on the list.

Nicky Oppenheimer

Nicky Oppenheimer and his family came in at number 23, two places higher than last year, despite the fact that their wealth dropped from £5,661 billion (roughly R127,4 billion) to £5,6 billion.

The Sunday Times lowered its estimation of the Oppenheimer’ fortune to account for the R1 billion towards the South African Future Trust (SAFT), set up by the family with the aim of easing the pain for South African businesses struggling in the shadow of COVID-19.

Nathan “Natie” Kirsh

Nathan Kirsh came in at number 39 with £3,656 billion, down by a whopping £628 million.

The paper said the 88-year-old Swazi citizen had spent £10m on “greening” London’s Tower 42 so that its 20 renewed lifts now consumed 82% less electricity.

The paper also noted that his son and daughter bought four apartments in Trump Tower.

The new eco-friendly London’s Tower sounds great. Trump Tower – not so much.

Douw Steyn

Douw Steyn rose 12 places on the list coming in at 150 with £950 million, an increase of £50 million.

Steyn City was mentioned as one of the largest residential developments in South Africa.

Other South Africans featured include Manfred Gorvy, who works in property and food, in 157th place with £918 million.

IT guru Mark Shuttleworth came in at 269, with £500m.

One place ahead of him, but also with £500m, was the pharmaceuticals industry’s Tony Tabatznik and his family.

At 300 was the Gordon family with £445m, a huge drop of £155m after the South African-born property magnate Sir Donald Gordon died in November at age 89.

Vivian Imerman came in at 340, with  £390m made in the spirits and food industries.

Down in 858th place was South African-born banker Richard Gnodde, with £140m.

The Sunday Times Rich List has been going since 1989.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted this year’s results, with half the billionaires in Britain seeing a decline in their net worth by as much as £6 billion.

You can check out the top 10 richest people in Britain, here.

[source: citizen]