Anton Rupert dies
2006-01-19 07:48
Cape Town - Dr Anton Rupert, undoubtedly South Africa's most successful entrepreneur and one of the greatest businessmen the country has produced, has died.
He was 89 years old.
Family spokesperson Hans Knoetze confirmed on Thursday that he died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday night.
His wife, Huberte, died just over two months ago at the age of 86 after a long struggle against cancer.
"There is reason to believe that her death was a setback for his health. It was probably the last straw," Knoetze told Sapa on Thursday.
"His daughter Hanneli was with him when he passed away," Knoetze said.
Rupert's son Johann was abroad at the time of Rupert's death, and was on his way home.
His death follows shortly after the release of his biography, written by former editor of Die Burger Ebbe Dommisse and Willie Esterhuyse.
The Rupert business empire includes Richemont, which sports luxury names Cartier, Mont Blanc, Rothmans and Dunhill, and stakes in Distell, British American Tobacco, FirstRand, Absa, TransHex, Unilever, Nampak, TotalSA, Rainbow Chicken and Medi-Clinic through Remgro.
The Ruperts also hold stakes in e.tv and Vodacom through soon-to-be sold VenFin.
According to his biography, Rupert's business career spanned over sixty years. He started global empire with a personal investment of just £10 in 1941 and climbed the rich ladder to the Forbes list of 500 wealthiest families worldwide.
His assets are currently estimated at $1.7bn.
Johann is the CEO of Richemont and chairperson of Remgro.
- Finance24