Across Africa, a new generation of billionaire children is stepping out of their fathers’ shadows and into leadership, culture, philanthropy, and global influence.
While some now oversee vast family-owned conglomerates, others are shaping conversations in spaces they deliberately carved out for themselves.
Crucially, they understand that inherited wealth and family name alone do not guarantee relevance. Rather than exist merely as heirs, they are actively building their own paths, identities, and impact. 
In doing so, they are not just preserving their families’ legacies; they are redefining and expanding them on their own terms.
Here are 12 of the most influential children of African billionaires.
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12 Most Influential Children of African Billionaires
1. Halima Dangote—daughter of Aliko Dangote (Africa’s richest man)
Halima Dangote sits at the heart of Africa’s most powerful industrial empire. As a Group Executive Director at Dangote Industries Limited, she plays a direct role in steering the conglomerate founded by her father, Aliko Dangote, whose businesses span across cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser and energy.
Halima holds global influence as Board President of The Africa Center in New York, while also serving on the boards of Endeavour Nigeria and Women Corporate Directors.
She was trained at KPMG and armed with degrees from London and the US. As a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, she helps channel billions towards health, education, and poverty reduction across Africa.
2. Jide Adenuga—son of Mike Adenuga (Nigeria’s telecom and oil billionaire)
Prince Michael Babajide Adenuga, widely known as Jide Adenuga, is not waiting for succession; he is already in charge. As Chairman of Globacom, Africa’s largest privately owned telecoms company, he occupies a central role in the empire built by his father, Dr. Mike Adenuga.
Jide was educated in the United States and previously served as a director at Conoil Plc, the family’s oil distribution firm. However, he has also carved out independent interests. He is the founder and CEO of 3 Inclusive Ltd, the exclusive distributor of Montaudon champagne in Nigeria.
Today, he represents continuity in one of Africa’s most influential corporate families.
3. Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola (DJ Cuppy)—daughter of Femi Otedola (Nigerian energy billionaire)
Florence Otedola, globally recognised as DJ Cuppy, has transformed privilege into cultural reach. The daughter of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has built an international career as a DJ, musician, and producer, performing everywhere from Glastonbury to the Cannes Film Festival.
Yet her influence goes far beyond music. Through The Cuppy Foundation, she has helped raise over $17 million to support displaced children and education initiatives in Nigeria and across Africa. In 2023, she became the first international ambassador for King Charles III’s The King’s Trust, focusing on youth empowerment.
In 2024, Cuppy moderated a session at the United Nations General Assembly, DJ’d for Goals House, and spoke at the Global Citizen Festival.
4. Temi Otedola—daughter of Femi Otedola (Nigerian energy billionaire)
While her sister dominates music, Temi Otedola commands fashion and film. Temi was educated in art history in London and built a following through her blog, JTO Fashion, before transitioning into acting.
She starred in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Citation’, winning Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Ghana Movie Awards. Since then, she has appeared in ‘The Man for the Job’ and Prime Video’s ‘Ms. Kanyin’.
In 2024, L’Oréal Paris named her its first-ever Sub-Saharan African Digital Brand Ambassador, cementing her status as one of Africa’s most influential fashion figures.
5. Bella Disu —daughter of Mike Adenuga (Nigeria’s telecom and oil billionaire)
Few African billionaire children wield as much corporate authority as Bella Disu. She serves as executive vice-chairman of Globacom, where she helped drive landmark projects like the Glo-1 submarine fibre-optic cable.
Beyond telecoms, she is Chairman of Abumet Nigeria, a Non-Executive Director at Julius Berger Nigeria, and CEO of Cobblestone Properties, behind some of Lagos’ most prestigious developments.
Her cultural impact is equally striking. Bella played a key role in establishing the Alliance Française Mike Adenuga Centre, earning her France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2024, she launched the SheGlows Programme to empower women leaders and expanded the Bella Disu Foundation.
6. Tlhopie Motsepe—son of Patrice Motsepe (South African mining billionaire)
At just 30, Tlhopie Motsepe became Chairman of Mamelodi Sundowns, one of Africa’s most successful football clubs. The appointment followed his father Patrice Motsepe’s election as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Though not a former player, Tlhopie brings modern corporate thinking to sports administration. He focuses on professionalising club structures, youth development, and community impact.
In doing so, he represents a generational shift in African football leadership that is young, strategic, and globally minded.
7. Malik Rebrab—son of Issad Rebrab (Algeria’s richest man)
Malik Rebrab now leads Cevital Group, Algeria’s largest private conglomerate, after formally succeeding his father, Issad Rebrab, in 2022. With operations spanning food processing, logistics and industry, Cevital employs around 18,000 people worldwide.
Malik joined the group in 1999 and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming CEO in 2004. His appointment marked a carefully planned generational transition, ensuring continuity in one of North Africa’s most powerful business empires.
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8. Jonathan Oppenheimer—son of Nicky Oppenheimer (Diamond billionaire)
A third-generation powerbroker, Jonathan Oppenheimer stands at the intersection of business, policy, and conservation. He was educated at Harrow and Oxford and has played senior roles at Anglo American and De Beers, helping oversee the family’s historic exit from the diamond trade in 2012.
Today, he serves as Executive Chairman of Oppenheimer Generations, which spans investments, research, conservation, and policy through institutions like the Brenthurst Foundation.
9. Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa—daughter of Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwean telecom billionaire)
Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa has turned philanthropy into a professional discipline. She is the daughter of Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa and leads Delta Philanthropies, Higherlife Foundation, and Akello, focusing on education, technology, and youth development.
Tanya is a Cambridge-trained leader who has helped fund schools, scholarships, and digital learning platforms across Africa. She also serves as a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner and sits on multiple global boards.
10. Clare Wiese—daughter of Christo Wiese (South African retail billionaire)
After Clare Wiese studied journalism and practised law. She then launched jewellery brands worn by global celebrities and featured in Vogue. She later pivoted again, this time into television.
Today, she co-produces and hosts MOOIMAAK, a pioneering South African makeover series. As the daughter of retail tycoon Christo Wiese, Clare represents creative independence within a powerful business lineage.
11. Lana Sawiris—Daughter of Naguib Sawiris (Egyptian telecom billionaire)
Lana Sawiris was educated at Parsons School of Design, and she has worked at Christian Louboutin and Kith before founding &LANA, a creative incubator based in New York.
She now serves as Global Chief Commercial Officer of Ora Developers and, in 2025, became CEO of Moniify, the fintech media platform founded by her father, Naguib Sawiris. Under her leadership, Moniify is pivoting to a video-first, youth-focused financial education model.
12. Davido (David Adeleke)—Son of Adedeji Adeleke (Nigerian billionaire businessman)
Few billionaire children in Africa have converted privilege into global cultural dominance like Davido. He is the son of Nigerian billionaire Adedeji Adeleke, founder of Pacific Holdings and a major investor in energy, education, and real estate.
Rather than step directly into the family business, Davido chose music and turned that choice into one of Africa’s most powerful exports. Over the past decade, he has become one of the biggest Afrobeats artists in the world, filling arenas, topping international charts, and collaborating with global stars.
Beyond music, Davido has built serious business and philanthropic influence. He holds major brand endorsements and has used his platform to raise millions of naira for orphanages and humanitarian causes across Nigeria.
His 2021 birthday donation drive, which saw him raise over ₦200 million, later evolved into the Davido Adeleke Foundation, focused on child welfare.
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Ultimately, this generation of African billionaire children is proving that legacy is not only inherited but also earned. While their surnames may have opened doors, their influence comes from the work they have chosen to do once inside the room.
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