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Key Points
- Adrian Gore’s Discovery stake value fell below $600 million after a 3.5% share drop on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- Discovery’s market cap dipped under $8.2 billion amid South Africa’s economic pressures and a challenging insurance sector.
- Despite recent losses, Discovery shares are up 9.6% in 2025, fueled by strong demand for health and financial services.
South African billionaire Adrian Gore, co-founder and CEO of Discovery Limited, has seen the value of his stake in the Johannesburg-based financial services group slip below $600 million after the company’s shares pulled back on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Gore owns a 7.19-percent stake in Discovery, or about 48.6 million shares. In the past month, the market value of that holding has fallen by R375.94 million ($21.22 million), leaving it at around $585.87 million.
The drop comes just weeks after a short-lived upswing in early June, when his stake briefly gained $34.74 million and pushed past the $600 million mark—a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in South Africa’s stock market.
Discovery stock slips, value below $8.2 billion
Founded in 1992 by Gore and Barry Swartzberg, Discovery began as a medical insurance provider before expanding into long-term and short-term insurance, asset management, and investment services. Over the past three decades, Gore has played a key role in shaping the industry, turning Discovery into a powerhouse in health and financial services.
In recent weeks, Discovery’s stock has slipped 3.5 percent, falling from R221.17 ($12.48) on July 8 to R213.44 ($12.05). That drop has pulled its market value below $8.2 billion, trimming recent investor gains and adding to shareholder worries at a time when South Africa’s economy remains under pressure and the insurance sector faces a tougher operating environment.
For Gore, the slide has had a personal cost. His stake in the company has fallen from R10.76 billion ($607.09 million) in early July to R10.38 billion ($585.87 million) at the time of this report—a reminder of how quickly shifts in market sentiment can ripple through the industry.
Your money and your life
Discovery’s shares on the JSE have risen 9.59 percent so far in 2025, turning a $100,000 investment in January into about $109,590. Share price has been lifted by steady demand for Discovery’s mix of health and financial services in South Africa and abroad. Analysts believe there’s still room for the stock to climb as investor confidence returns, pointing to strong leadership, a solid pipeline of products, and growing interest in health and wellness insurance.
