Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has generated reactions following a new interview in which he spoke about his estimated wealth and business empire.
During the interview with The School of Hard Knocks, a platform known for conversations with successful entrepreneurs and billionaires, Dangote said his actual net worth may be higher than current estimates by Forbes.
When asked about his net worth, the Nigerian billionaire said he could not give an exact figure but noted that his refinery alone is valued at more than $40 billion.
“I don’t know really, but my refinery is worth over $40 billion, just the refinery alone. But I don’t know, it (net worth) will come out soon,” Dangote said.
The interviewer referred to Forbes’ estimate, which places Dangote’s wealth at about $38 billion.
Responding, Dangote explained that many of his businesses are not publicly listed, making it difficult to accurately calculate his total wealth.
“They said I am worth $38 billion because most of our businesses are not listed yet,” he said.
The business mogul also addressed questions about his humility despite being Africa’s wealthiest individual, attributing his personality to the values instilled in him by his family.
“I have been humble all my life. My family taught me to be very humble, to make sure that I don’t really show off. They taught me to be disciplined and down to earth,” Dangote stated.
Dangote is the founder and chairman of Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement producer. Through his business empire, he owns a significant stake in the company, which has operations across several African countries.
Beyond cement production, Dangote has expanded into other sectors, including fertilizer production and petroleum refining. His multi-billion-dollar refinery project in Nigeria represents one of the largest private-sector investments in Africa’s industrial history.
At 69, Dangote remains one of the world’s most prominent self-made billionaires, having built his fortune through investments in cement, sugar, fertilizer and other industries. He is based in Lagos and holds a degree from Al-Azhar University.
