Forbes 2021 World Billionaire list has recognized Nigeria’s three dollar-billionaires, with Dangote topping the list.
The list was released on Tuesday, April 6.
They are Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote group; Mike Adenuga, chairman of Globacom; and Abulsamad Rabiu, chairman of BUA group.
However, Folorunso Alakija, executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, fell off the list second year in a row.
In 2019, Alakija made the Forbes list of world billionaires and was ranked 1941 in a list of 2,153 billionaires; with a net worth of $1.1 billion. The oil tycoon dropped off the global billionaires’ list in 2020, although she still emerged as 20th richest African billionaire in 2020.
According to Forbes, Alakija’s fortune dropped below $1 billon due to lower oil prices because she is mainly into oil exploration.
However, Dangote retained the top spot of Africa’s richest person with a net worth of $11.5 billion, making him the 191st wealthiest person in the world.
He owns 85 per cent of publicly-traded Dangote Cement through a holding company, and has shares in publicly-traded salt and sugar manufacturing companies.
Adenuga, Nigeria’s second richest man, was ranked 440th richest in the world with a net worth of $6.1 billion; up from $5.6bn in 2020.
Rabiu emerged as 574th richest person in the world with an estimated fortune of $4.9 billion. He also maintains the position of sixth wealthiest person in Africa.
Despite the worldwide economic impact of the COVID-19 Forbes said an additional 660 individuals were added to its 2021 billionaires list.
“It’s been a year like no other, and we aren’t talking about the pandemic. There were rapid-fire public offerings; surging cryptocurrencies and skyrocketing stock prices,” Forbes said.
“The number of billionaires on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest exploded to an unprecedented 2,755; 660 more than a year ago.
“Of those, a record high 493 were new to the list–roughly one every 17 hours; including 210 from China and Hong Kong. Another 250 who’d fallen off in the past came roaring back. A staggering 86 per cent are richer than a year ago.”
Jeff Bezos, chief executive officer (CEO) of Amazon, remains the world’s richest man for the fourth straight year with an estimated worth of $177 billion; followed by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, in second place with $151 billion.
