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In South Africa, wealth carries a certain weight. Some family names are almost institutions: Oppenheimer, Rupert, Wiese, Motsepe. Mention them and people immediately think of diamonds, luxury, retail empires or mines. Alongside the privilege, though, comes expectation—often a quiet pressure to guard what was built before.
But the newest generation isn’t simply polishing the family crest. They’re stepping into unusual arenas, from contemporary art to solar power, from high-end jewelry to professional football. Their choices say as much about the shifting priorities of South Africa today as they do about the fortunes that made them heirs in the first place. They represent legacies tied to mining, diamonds, retail, luxury goods and sport—industries that have defined the country’s economy for generations.
But what happens when the fortune has already been made? The next generation has a choice: to guard the vaults, or to shape new stories. A surprising number are doing the latter, stepping outside the traditional corporate lanes and investing their lives in art, green energy, conservation, and even football.
Here’s a look at six of South Africa’s most prominent billionaire heirs and how they’re reimagining their inheritance.
Jonathan Oppenheimer: the conservationist capitalist
Jonathan M. E. Oppenheimer, the great-grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, has moved beyond his family’s diamond empire but still works at the intersection of money and legacy. Once an executive at De Beers and vice-president of Anglo American, Jonathan now chairs Oppenheimer Generations, the family’s private investment arm. He’s not only known for boardroom deals. Jonathan has also made conservation a central part of his work. Through Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, he backs projects across southern Africa that range from biodiversity studies to wildlife protection and sustainable farming practices.
Rebecca L. Oppenheimer: reinventing with rainwater
Rebecca L. Oppenheimer, daughter of Mary Oppenheimer-Slack, is turning the family’s diamond-sparkled name toward social impact. She is developing a vertical gardening system that uses rain-harvesting technology, aimed at helping under-resourced communities improve nutrition and food security. Her work isn’t about corporate boards or luxury goods but about urban farming, micro-irrigation, and education. In many ways, Rebecca is challenging the image of the passive heiress. Instead, she’s betting that a legacy built on natural resources can be reimagined into tools that deliver clean water and sustainable diets.
Hanneli Rupert: painting outside the family lines
While her father Johann Rupert oversees Richemont, the luxury group behind Cartier and Montblanc, Hanneli Rupert chose canvas over cash flow. Born in 1983, she studied fine arts at Parsons School of Design in New York and has built a reputation as a contemporary artist. Her paintings have traveled well beyond South Africa, with exhibitions placing her among respected names in contemporary art. Still, Hanneli Rupert’s story isn’t confined to galleries. She launched the Okapi Foundation, which backs education projects at home, particularly those that give women greater opportunities.
Caroline Rupert: the strategist in London
Caroline Rupert, Johann Rupert’s other daughter, has kept closer to finance but still on her own terms. At 40, she established Kathaka Advisers Limited in London, a single family office managing her investments and philanthropic interests. The University of Cape Town graduate is less visible than her sister, but her quiet influence lies in how she allocates capital. A University of Cape Town graduate, she keeps a lower profile than her sister, but her presence is felt in how she directs her investments. Through Kathaka, she has pushed the family office beyond simple wealth preservation, steering it into projects with a social or environmental edge. It’s a sign of how younger heirs are rethinking what it means to manage inherited fortunes.
Clare Wiese-Wentzel: retail blood, lifestyle edge
Clare Wiese-Wentzel, daughter of retail magnate Christo Wiese, has taken a lifestyle-driven path. A TV presenter and entrepreneur, she owns Paka Paka, an upmarket jewelry brand that mixes South African aesthetics with contemporary luxury. Her paintings have traveled well beyond South Africa, with exhibitions placing her among respected names in contemporary art. Still, Hanneli Rupert’s story isn’t confined to galleries. She launched the Okapi Foundation, which backs education projects at home, particularly those that give women greater opportunities.
Tlhopie Motsepe: football and the future of energy
Tlhopie Motsepe, born in 1989, is the first son of mining magnate Patrice Motsepe and physician Precious Moloi-Motsepe. While his father’s fortune came from African Rainbow Minerals, Tlhopie has carved his own mark through sport and energy. As chairman of Mamelodi Sundowns, one of Africa’s most successful football clubs, he has managed the transition after his father stepped aside to lead the Confederation of African Football. Under Tlhopie’s watch, the club has continued to dominate both the men’s and women’s leagues. Motsepe also co-owns ePower Holdings, a renewable energy company focused on solar power.
