Zimbabwean telecommunications magnate and billionaire entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa—best known as the founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and a prominent figure in Africa’s business community—has recently seen a notable dip in his personal fortune
Billionaire Econet Founder Strive Masiyiwa’s Net Worth Declines By Millions
Masiyiwa, who rose from modest beginnings in the 1990s to build a multinational telecom and technology empire operating across more than 20 countries, once saw his net worth peak at approximately US$1.3 billion. However, according to recent data from Forbes, his wealth has since declined to around US$1.2 billion.
The drop in Masiyiwa’s fortune is attributed to a combination of factors, most prominently a revaluation of his publicly listed holdings in companies on the Harare Stock Exchange. Zimbabwe’s highly volatile economy played a key role: in May, the government replaced the local currency with the gold-backed ZiG in an effort to tackle runaway inflation, a move which unsettled investors and undermined market confidence. As a result, corporate valuations across multiple sectors—including those tied to Masiyiwa’s business interests—fell significantly.
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Adding to the pressure, more specific issues at Econet and its subsidiary companies emerged. Liquidity constraints, fluctuating exchange rates, and the broader economic instability in Zimbabwe eroded the value of Masiyiwa’s shareholdings and investment portfolio. Over the past few months alone, his wealth is reported to have slipped by about US$100 million, with a year-to-date decline of around US$600 million.
Despite this setback, Masiyiwa remains a figure of enormous influence across the African continent. His journey—from a young engineer in Zimbabwe to a global business leader and philanthropist—is widely cited as an inspiration for entrepreneurs. His empire spans beyond telecommunications into fintech, renewable energy and other growth sectors, demonstrating a diversified strategy that many business analysts admire. The recent wealth decline underscores the fact that even among the continent’s wealthiest individuals, fortunes can shift quickly when structural economic issues are at play.
In reaction to the news of Masiyiwa’s wealth decline, Zimbabweans took to social media to express a variety of viewpoints. One user penned:
“God, I pray that I reach a level where if I lose 100 million, I will still be miles away from being broke.”
Others pointed to the broader economic context, noting the ripple effect of currency reforms and fluctuating markets on high-net-worth individuals.
Overall, Masiyiwa’s situation highlights several key takeaways. First, wealth, even at the billionaire level, is not immune from macroeconomic risk, particularly in emerging-market contexts like Zimbabwe. Second, public-market revaluations and currency shifts can have immediate and large-scale impacts on net worth. Third, even highly diversified business empires with strong leadership face headwinds when local economic stability falters.
Nevertheless, industry watchers say Masiyiwa’s long-term outlook remains solid. His prior success in establishing and expanding Econet across borders, his reputation as a visionary leader, and his continuing investments in global partnerships all suggest the potential for recovery. While the current dip in his net worth is significant, many see it as a temporary bump rather than a permanent decline.
In short: Strive Masiyiwa remains one of Africa’s business heavyweights, but his latest fortune drop serves as a reminder of how much local economic turbulence—and investor sentiment—can affect even the most prominent entrepreneurial figures.
