NigeriaFounded it
Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote founded the Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Group, which grew from commodity trading in 1978 into cement, sugar, fertiliser and Africa's largest oil refinery.
- Forbes estimate
- $51.1B
- Forbes, 15 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 35
- 9 Oct 2026
- Stake in Dangote Petroleum Refinery
- 92.3%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $35.7B
- Bloomberg, 17 Oct 2026
- Born
- 10 Apr 1957
- Kano, Nigeria
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Business degree, Al-Azhar University, Cairo
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Cement
Dangote Industries (Dangote Group)
industrial conglomerate, founded 1981
Bloomberg says he controls the closely held group but gives no percentage; Dangote Cement's 2025 accounts call him the ultimate owner of Dangote Industries Limited
Founder, president and chief executive
Dangote Petroleum Refinery
oil refining and petrochemicals
Bloomberg's figure; the 2026 prospectus says he is the beneficial owner of shares held by Dangote Oil Refining Company, Dangote Industries and Greenview International but gives no consolidated percentage here
Bloomberg Billionaires Index; 2026 IPO prospectus, 17 Oct 2026
Chairman
Dangote Cement
cement, founded 1992
86.65% held by Dangote Industries Limited, of which he is the ultimate owner, plus 0.17% held directly; Bloomberg says 86%
Dangote Cement Plc 2025 audited financial statements, 31 Dec 2025
Chairman of the board
Other holdings
Dangote Sugar Refinery
5.38% held directly and 66.87% through Dangote Industries; he is the ultimate controlling party. Retired as chairman in June 2025
NASCON Allied Industries and United Bank for Africa
Listed stakes valued by Bloomberg; percentages not stated
Fertiliser plant, oil blocks OML 71 and 72, Lagos real estate
Assets listed by Bloomberg
Where Aliko stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Aliko Dangote is outlined.
How the fortune started
Founded it
Founded it 42
Inherited and grew it 12
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Several industries
Several industries 9
Technology 24
Finance 10
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Crypto 2
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree 27
Graduate degree 24
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Runs the company
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
Founder, no executive role 8
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 10 Apr 1957Kano, Nigeria
- Citizenship
- Nigeria
- Lives in
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Education
- Bachelor's degreeBusiness degree, Al-Azhar University, Cairo
- Parents
- Son of Mariya Sanusi Dantata and Mohammed Dangote; his father died when he was eight and he was raised by his maternal grandfather, a commodities and building-materials trader. His great-grandfather was one of West Africa's richest men
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Aliko Dangote FoundationHis private charitable foundation, incorporated in 1994 as Dangote Foundation
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Runs the companyPresident and chief executive of Dangote Group; chairman of Dangote Cement and Dangote Petroleum Refinery
- Successor
- No single successor named; Bloomberg says his succession plan includes his three daughters, Halima, Fatima and Mariya, all group executive directors at Dangote Industries
- Public office
- Chairman, Nigeria End Malaria Council, 2022-
- Legal record
- None found
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