South Africa has a new dollar billionaire joining the leagues of Johann Rupert, Nicky Oppenheimer, Ivan Glasenberg, Patrice Motsepe, and Koos Bekker. His name is Paul van Zuydam.
How Did Paul van Zuydam Make His Money?
At 87, Paul van Zuydam, the owner of Le Creuset, a company that sells fancy colourful pots, cookware, bakeware, pans and skillets, has become South Africa’s newest dollar billionaire with a net worth of $1.7 billion. 
He bought a sinking brand in 1988 and focused on building trust and craftsmanship rather than financial reports, focusing on operational excellence.
Le Creuset is now a symbol of upper-classism refinement and taste with a single pot costing almost $1,000. For instance, Meghan the Duchess of Sussex spoke about how much she loves their pots on her Netflix cooking show.
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When Van Zuydam took control of the reins, he improved quality standards significantly, accepting that 25% of production may be rejected. Under his leadership, he transformed Le Creuset into a debt-free company with over $850 million in annual revenues, placing the company as a global leader in premium cookware.
His journey teaches that opportunities may not always be visible through numbers alone; sometimes excellence, quality and workmanship are all you need to become a billionaire.
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