Dangote Climbs World Ranking, Now Richer Than 100 Other Billionaires

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is now officially among the top 100 wealthiest people in the world, and he’s still climbing.

According to new data from Forbes, Dangote’s net worth has grown to $24.1 billion, pushing him to 89th place on the global billionaire list. 

This is a huge jump from the start of 2025 when he was worth $11.5 billion and ranked 199th. In just a few months, he has moved past more than 100 other billionaires.

Dangote is best known for his cement company, but a big part of his recent success comes from his new oil refinery, the largest in Africa. These investments have helped his fortune grow fast, especially in 2025.

How other Nigerians are doing

The latest update also includes other wealthy Nigerians:

• Mike Adenuga (Globacom and Conoil) is ranked 581st with $6.3 billion.
  
• Abdulsamad Rabiu (BUA Group) is 636th with $5.8 billion.
  
• Femi Otedola (Geregu Power) sits at 2,382nd with $1.5 billion.
  

While Dangote has taken the spotlight, these billionaires are still playing key roles in Nigeria’s business world.

Who are the richest people in the world?

At the very top of the list, American tech giants are still leading:

1. Elon Musk – $413.2 billion
   
2. Larry Ellison – $291.6 billion
   
3. Mark Zuckerberg – $243.1 billion
   
4. Jeff Bezos – $239.2 billion
   
5. Larry Page – $152.6 billion
   
6. Jensen Huang – $150.1 billion
   
7. Sergey Brin – $145.8 billion
   
8. Bernard Arnault & Family – $145.6 billion
   
9. Steve Ballmer – $143.5 billion
   
10. Warren Buffett – $142.0 billion
    

Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault, who once topped the list, have now dropped a few spots. Surprisingly, Bill Gates is no longer in the top 10.

What’s next for Dangote?

Dangote isn’t stopping. He recently said he wants to see Africa become a “heaven” in the next five years. 

He also believes his businesses can bring in $30 billion in yearly revenue by next year. On top of that, he aims to make Nigeria the world’s biggest exporter of urea, ahead of Qatar.