South African-British billionaire Clive Calder has achieved a remarkable feat this year as his net worth closed in on the $7-billion milestone, solidifying his position as one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals and one of the United Kingdom’s richest.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the fortunes of the world’s top 500 billionaires, Clive Calder’s wealth has seen a staggering increase of $150 million over the past 38 days — translating to an average daily gain of $3.94 million since Jan. 1.
Calder’s fortune skyrockets, reaching approximately $7 billion
This remarkable financial growth has caused his net worth to climb from $6.83 billion on Jan. 1, 2024, to $6.98 billion at the time of drafting this report — thus solidifying his position as one of the world’s richest individuals.
The recent $150-million surge in Calder’s fortune builds on his success in 2023 when his wealth climbed from $5.6 billion to $6.83 billion at the close of business — representing an impressive $1.23 billion increase in 2023.
With a notable net worth of $6.98 billion according to Bloomberg, the South African-born billionaire based in the Cayman Islands ranks among Southern Africa’s most influential figures like Nicky Oppenheimer and Natie Kirsh.
Calder secures 371st spot among world’s richest
Calder, ranked 370th among the world’s wealthiest individuals, attributes his success to his influential role in the music industry. His business acumen was evident in the creation of Zomba, a global powerhouse that was acquired for $2.74 billion in 2002 by the German-based media group Bertelsmann.
Beyond music, the South African billionaire and his son, Keith Calder, invested $46 million in Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), the studio behind Star Citizen. This investment secured approximately 10 percent of CIG’s shares, providing a significant financial boost.
In addition to his business ventures, Calder is a philanthropist and founder of ELMA Foundations, one of Africa’s largest private non-profits. The foundation invests in organizations dedicated to children’s healthcare, education, humanitarian relief, social enterprises, and youth development through music. In May 2020, Calder pledged $107 million to combat COVID-19 in Africa, allocating $26 million to South Africa.
