In recent years, a remarkable trend has emerged, South Africans are carving out significant spaces for themselves in the competitive world of American entrepreneurship.
With a unique blend of creativity, resilience, and a global perspective shaped by their diverse backgrounds, South African entrepreneurs are bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to the American market.
In this article, WoA delves into the stories of these trailblazers, highlighting their journeys and challenges.
1. Elon Musk
Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
He is a prominent entrepreneur known for founding and leading several influential companies, including SpaceX and Tesla.
At the age of 17, Musk moved to Canada to avoid military service and later became a U.S. citizen in 2002. Musk co-founded PayPal, which was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.
He used his earnings to establish SpaceX and invest in Tesla.
Musks net worth fluctuates but was recently estimated at around $429 billion by Forbes, making him the wealthiest individual globally.
2. David Sacks
Sacks, born on May 25, 1972, in Cape Town, South Africa, moved to the U.S. at age five.
He is a prominent entrepreneur and investor, known for his roles as COO of PayPal and founder of Yammer, which Microsoft acquired for $1.2 billion in 2012.
Sacks co-founded Craft Ventures in 2017 and co-hosts the popular All-In podcast.
His net worth is estimated to be between $200 million and $2 billion, attributed to successful investments in tech startups like Uber and SpaceX.
Recently, Sacks was appointed by Donald Trump as the White House AI and crypto czar.
3. Roelof Botha
Botha, born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1973, is a prominent venture capitalist and partner at Sequoia Capital.
After earning a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Cape Town, he moved to the U.S. for an MBA at Stanford.
Botha began his career at PayPal, becoming CFO before joining Sequoia in 2003, where he has invested in companies like YouTube and Instagram.
His net worth is estimated to be between $218 million and $438 million.
4. Rodney Sacks
Sacks was born in 1949 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He earned a law degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and became the youngest partner at a major law firm, Werksmans.
In 1989, Sacks moved to California and, in 1990, led a consortium that acquired Hansen Natural Corporation, which was later rebranded as Monster Beverage Corporation.
Under his leadership, Monster has grown into one of the leading energy drink brands globally.
Sacks’ net worth is estimated to be around $3.1 billion.
5. Hilton Schlosberg
Schlosberg, born in South Africa, is a British billionaire businessman known for his role at Monster Beverage Corporation, where he serves as Vice Chairman, President, and COO.
He moved to the U.S. after leading a consortium that acquired Hansen Natural Corporation in 1990, which later became Monster Beverage.
Schlosberg’s net worth is approximately $3.06 billion, ranking him 1105th globally among billionaires.
His wealth primarily stems from the energy drink industry, particularly through Monster’s extensive product line and global reach.
6. Patrick Soon-Shiong
Soon-Shiong is a South African-American surgeon, businessman, and philanthropist, with a net worth of approximately $6.31 billion.
He ranks 476th globally among billionaires and 177th in the U.S.
Soon-Shiong is best known for founding NantWorks, a conglomerate focused on healthcare and biotechnology, and for developing the cancer drug Abraxane.
He also owns the Los Angeles Times and has significant investments in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
With over 500 patents to his name, he has published more than 100 scientific papers throughout his career.