Swazi billionaire Natie Kirsh, who is known for his vast wealth and business ventures in the food supply industry, has made an impressive financial comeback following a roller-coaster year as evolving market dynamics pose intricate challenges, including currency devaluation.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the fortunes of the world’s 500 wealthiest billionaires, Kirsh’s net worth has surged by $330 million in 39 days, climbing from $6.93 billion on August 6 to a staggering $7.26 billion on Sept. 14.
The recent bump in his fortune, which translates to an average gain of $8.5 million per day and marks a relief from when his net worth dipped below $7 billion, has solidified his position as Eswatini’s richest man and also as one of the richest men on the African continent according to the Bloomberg Index.
Currently ranked as the 326th richest person in the world, Kirsh derives a significant portion of his private investments from diverse investments, including his closely held conglomerate that holds a majority position in Jetro Holdings, a prominent food supply company, Kirsh Group is presently valued at $305 million.
Kirsh owns an impressive 75-percent equity stake in Jetro Holdings, a New York-based consumer goods holding company overseeing two wholesale grocery enterprises in the United States, namely Jetro Cash & Carry and Restaurant Depot.
Going by Bloomberg’s figures, Kirsh’s stake in Jetro Holdings is presently worth $4.85 billion, accounting for the majority of his $7.26-billion fortune.
In addition to his investment in Jetro Holdings, the Swazi billionaire holds a 54-percent stake in Abacus Property Group, a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in Sydney now valued at $315 million. Natie Kirsh’s property portfolio includes Tower 42, London’s pioneering office skyscraper presently valued at $364 million, and the Jandakot Airport in Perth, Australia.
While the market value of most of his properties has been recovering in the past year, Tower 42, an iconic London landmark, has experienced a slight decline of $9 million since the beginning of the year, decreasing from $373 million to $364 million.
