Age, Biography and Wiki
Johann Peter Rupert was born on June 1, 1950, making him 75 years old in 2025. He hails from Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he grew up before attending the prestigious Paul Roos Gymnasium. Rupert is the eldest son of the renowned business tycoon Anton Rupert and his wife Huberte. Known for his low-profile and reserved nature, he is often described as “reclusive” and is nicknamed “Rupert the Bear” in business circles.
His entry into business was preceded by studies in Economics and Company Law at the University of Stellenbosch, though he later dropped out to focus on his entrepreneurial endeavors. The university later awarded him an honorary doctorate in economics in 2004, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University also granted him an honorary degree in 2008.
| Occupation | Conservationist |
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| Date of Birth | 1 June 1950 |
| Age | 75 Years |
| Birth Place | Stellenbosch, South Africa |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | South Africa |
Height, Weight & Measurements
There is no publicly available information regarding Johann Rupert’s height, weight, or body measurements. His private persona and preference for being out of the spotlight contribute to the lack of such details.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Johann Rupert maintains a very private personal life. There are no public reports or credible sources that provide information about his dating life or current relationship status. He is known to focus on his family and business, steering clear of media attention regarding his private affairs.
Johann Peter Rupert (born 1 June 1950) is a South African billionaire businessman, who is the eldest son of business tycoon Anton Rupert and his wife Huberte. He is the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury goods company Richemont and the South Africa-based company Remgro.
Following in the footsteps of his father Anton, Rupert is also a committed conservationist. In addition to conserving about 25,000 hectares in the Graaff Reinet area, he is also chairman of the Peace Parks Foundation.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Gaynor Rupert |
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Net Worth and Salary
As of April 2025, Johann Rupert’s net worth was estimated at approximately $15.3 billion by Bloomberg, with other sources citing it as high as $17.7 billion in early 2025 depending on market conditions. Forbes listed his net worth at about $15.2 billion for 2025. His fortune is primarily attributed to his leadership roles in the luxury goods sector, notably as Chairman of Richemont and Remgro.
Rupert’s wealth saw a significant surge during the first half of 2025, rising from $13.7 billion at the start of the year to as much as $17 billion at a peak in February, before stabilizing around $15.3 billion in April. His salary as a chairman is not publicly disclosed but is assumed to be a small fraction of his overall net worth compared to dividends and capital gains from his extensive holdings.
He has previously served as CEO of Compagnie Financiere Richemont. Rupert and family were ranked the second richest in South Africa; behind Elon Musk; on the 2025 Forbes list, with an estimated net worth of US$15.2 billion and US$17.7 billion according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Career, Business, and Investments
Johann Rupert is best known as the chairman of Richemont, a Swiss-based luxury goods company housing iconic brands such as Cartier, Montblanc, and Van Cleef & Arpels. He previously served as the CEO of Richemont, steering the company to global prominence in the luxury sector. He is also chairman of Remgro, a South Africa-based investment conglomerate with interests spanning various industries including banking, insurance, healthcare, and consumer goods.
Rupert’s business acumen is widely recognized, and his leadership has been pivotal in the sustained growth of his companies, particularly through strategic investments and innovation. The strong performance of Richemont’s jewellery and luxury segments has been a key driver of his net worth gains in recent years.
Rupert grew up in Stellenbosch, where he attended Paul Roos Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch, studying economics and company law. He dropped out of the university to pursue a career in business, however, in 2004, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate in economics.
Rupert served his business apprenticeship in New York City, where he worked for Chase Manhattan for two years and for Lazard Freres for 3 years. He then returned to South Africa in 1979 and founded Rand Merchant Bank of which he was CEO.
* 1990: Named business leader of the year by Die Burger newspaper and the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce. Formed Richemont subsidiary Vendôme Luxury Group SA.
* 2000: Restructured Rembrandt Group Limited and formed Remgro Limited and VenFin Limited. Appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. Voted "Most influential Business Leader" in South Africa by CEOs of top 100 Listed Companies
* Selected as the 2009 International Wine Entrepreneur of the Year at the Meininger "Excellence in Wine and Spirit" awards ceremony in Düsseldorf, Germany.
In 2008, Rupert bought a 50% stake in English Premiership Rugby club Saracens through his Remgro company. In 2018, having won three premiership titles and two Champions Cups, Rupert sold his stake to chairman Nigel Wray.
He was council member of the South Africa Foundation and trustee of the Southern African Nature Foundation, The Institute of Directors in Southern Africa, Business South Africa and Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and Managing Trustee and member of the investment committee, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. He served on the Daimler Chrysler International Advisory Board.
In 2018, Rupert caused some controversy in South Africa for comments he made during an interview with PowerFM. He was criticised for denying the alleged existence of white monopoly capital, his account of the process of Afrikaner economic upliftment, and for comments he made regarding the saving habits of black South Africans. Following the incident Rupert issued an apology for his comments. The controversial leader of the Black First Land First party Andile Mngxitama stated afterwards that Rupert's comments were a reason to commit violence against white South Africans.
Social Network
Johann Rupert is notably private and rarely engages on mainstream social media platforms. He does not have public, verified profiles on networks like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. His influence is felt more through business circles, industry conferences, and corporate communications rather than personal social media engagement.
In December 2016, it was reported that Rupert had dropped Bell Pottinger as the PR agency of Richemont, accusing Bell Pottinger of running a social media campaign against him, to divert attention away from persistent 'state capture' allegations levelled at the Gupta family. Interpol has issued red notices against Atul and Rajesh Gupta — two of the three Indian-origin Gupta brothers — who fled South Africa with their families amid investigations into their alleged looting of billions of rands from state-owned enterprises.
Education
- School: Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
- University: University of Stellenbosch (studied Economics and Company Law, did not graduate)
- Honorary Doctorates:
- Doctorate in Economics, University of Stellenbosch (2004)
- Honorary Doctorate, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (2008)
In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Described as "reclusive" by the Financial Times and Barron's, Rupert rarely gives interviews and shuns public events. He is nicknamed "Rupert the Bear".
