How does Johann Rupert, South Africa’s richest man, spend his billions? The CEO of Richemont – owner of Cartier, Montblanc and more – splurges on wineries, a car museum and charity work

May 15 , 2022

Johann Rupert is the richest man in South Africa and spends his billions on sports, mansions and other luxuries. Photos: @Drakenstein Stud/Facebook, AFP

He’s the second wealthiest person in Africa and South Africa’s richest citizen with a US$8 billion net worth; his mansion in Cape Town is worth US$2 million

His company owns Dunhill, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels and more, putting it on competitor lists with LVMH and Estée Lauder – he’s known as a charitable man too

Everyone in South Africa knows of Johann Rupert. Not only is the 71-year-old entrepreneur the second wealthiest person on the African continent, he is also South Africa’s richest citizen. According to Forbes, the super wealthy Rupert currently boasts a bank balance of almost US$8 billion.

Billionaire Johann Rupert, founder and chairman of Compagnie Financière Richemont. Photo: Bloomberg

Born to successful South African businessman and philanthropist Anton Rupert, the billionaire businessman founded Compagnie Financière Richemont in 1988, more commonly known as Richemont. The luxury goods business manages several high profile luxury brands; including Cartier, Dunhill, Piaget, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others. Rupert’s company is the third largest luxury goods company on the planet, trailing behind juggernauts LVMH and Estée Lauder, per Deloitte’s 2019 report on Global Powers of Luxury Goods.

So how does the South African tycoon spend his billions? Let’s take a closer look.

Homes

Johann Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud Farm in South Africa. Photos: Getty Images, @Drakenstein Stud/Facebook

Though he enjoys fame and fortune, Rupert is a notoriously private person who lives his life as much as possible away from the public eye. The Ruperts live in a huge home in Cape Town, South Africa. As per Briefly News, it has been reported that their mansion is worth over US$2.1 million (two million euros).

The picturesque Drakenstein Stud farm. Photo: @Drakenstein Stud/Facebook

Additionally, the Ruperts own swathes of South African farmlands, most notably L’Ormarins Wine Estate, which includes Drakenstein Stud Farm. The expansive wine estate is located in one of South Africa’s famed wine-producing regions, Franschhoek.