BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Businessman Nathan ‘Natie’ Kirsh’s billionaire status places Eswatini on top seven African countries with the highest number of billionaires in 2026.
At the Forbes global billionaires list ranking index, Kirsh, is listed as the richest person in the Kingdom of Eswatini with a fortune estimated around E129.5 billion (US$7.8 billion).
Nairametrics published on March 11, 2026 that Eswatini has only one billionaire with a dollar-denominated net worth. That individual is Nathan Kirsh, whose fortune is estimated at around US$7.8 billion, placing him among the richest people in Africa and the world.
“Kirsh built most of his wealth through Jetro Holdings, a U.S.-based wholesale distribution business that owns Restaurant Depot and Jetro Cash and Carry. These companies supply food and other goods to small retailers, restaurants, and independent stores across the United States,” reads the report.
It further states that although Kirsh’s businesses operate globally, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, he is widely recognised as Eswatini’s richest person and the country’s only billionaire on the Forbes global billionaires list.
“Kirsh began building his fortune in the late 1950s when he launched a corn milling business in Swaziland (now Eswatini). Over the decades, he expanded into food distribution, supermarkets, and property investments across several countries, eventually creating a global retail and real estate empire. As of March 6, 2026, the country has an estimated population of about 1.27 million people,” reads the article.
Meanwhile, the report indicates that billionaire wealth in Africa continues to surge, fueled by rising equity markets, corporate profits, and more stable regional currencies. In 2026, the continent’s 23 richest individuals are worth US$126.7 billion, up 21% from 2025, adding US$20.3 billion collectively to their fortunes.
Leading sectors are said to include telecommunications, mining, cement, energy, luxury goods, and banking.
According to the publication, Africa’s population is estimated at over 1.5 billion people in 2026, accounting for roughly 18% of the global population.
It is the world’s fastest-growing region, with projections expecting the population to reach 2.5 billion by 2050.
While billionaires are spread across the continent, some countries are said to have become hotbeds for ultra-wealth, hosting the largest number of dollar-denominated billionaires. These countries combine large populations, diversified economies, and deep capital markets, enabling entrepreneurs and industrialists to build vast fortunes that rival global peers.
The feature takes a look at the top seven African countries with the highest number of dollar-denominated billionaires based on Forbes ranking index.
South Africa tops the list and it is followed by Egypt , with Nigeria on third place. Morocco is on fourth place followed by Tanzania on fifth and Zimbabwe ahead of Eswatini on sixth place.
Top 7 African Countries with most Billionaires:
1 South Africa
2 Egypt
3 Nigeria
4 Morocco
5 Tanzania
6 Zimbabwe
7 Eswatini
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