Strive Masiyiwa is a prominent Zimbabwean entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor, best known as the founder and executive chairman of Econet Wireless, a leading telecommunications group in Africa.
He is also the founder of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies.
This is his profile as told by WOA.
Strive Masiyiwa Net worth
Strive Masiyiwa is one of the richest individuals in Zimbabwe and the African continent as a whole.
Forbes estimates his net worth to be $1.8 billion, making him the richest man in Zimbabwe and the 12th richest man in Africa.
In May 2021, Masiyiwa emerged as Britain’s first black billionaire when he made the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated net worth of £1.087 billion.
He reportedly owns 38% of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, a publicly traded company, as well as 33% of EcoCash Holdings, a mobile phone-based money transfer firm.
He also has stakes in the following companies:
- Econet Wireless Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria): Formerly owned by Econet Global.
- Econet Wireless New Zealand (now 2 Degrees Mobile): Formerly owned by Econet Global.
- Africa Data Centres: The largest network of carrier- and cloud-neutral data center facilities in Africa.
- Sasai Fintech: A fintech company under the Cassava Technologies umbrella.
- Telrad Group Israel: A technology solutions provider.
Additionally, Masiyiwa holds shares in Netflix, where he is a board member, and Unilever, where he is a former board member.
Finally, he is involved in the direct management of Cassava Technologies and Higherlife Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife Tsitsi.
What property does Strive Masiyiwa Own?
Aside from his investments, Masiyiwa owns several properties and luxury items.
For instance, he owns a $24 million mansion in the UK, a $3.3 million mansion in Surrey, England, and a $6 million property in London.
He has two penthouse units in the prestigious Eldorado Tower in New York, purchased for $24.5 million.
Also, as befits his status, Masiyiwa travels in a Bombardier Challenger 850 private jet, worth around $35 million, similar to the one owned by Angolan president João Lourenço.
His daughter, Vimbai Masiyiwa, has seemingly followed in her father’s entrepreneurial footsteps.
In 2021, she opened the Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge, a luxury game lodge in Zimbabwe, that offers a high-end experience in the African bush.
In December 2020, Srive Msiyiwa was hailed by Bloomberg as one of the 50 most influential people in the world.
His library collection is reportedly worth over $40,000 with the Bible being his favorite book.
Education qualifications
Masiyiwa’s education repertoire is as impressive as his entrepreneurial achievements.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Wales, which he got in 1983.
Also, in recognition of his charitable and humanitarian efforts, he has received honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Morehouse College, Yale University, Nelson Mandela University, and his alma mater, Cardiff University.
Success Journey
Strive Masiyiwa was born on January 29, 1961, in Zimbabwe. Masiyiwa’s family fled to Zambia when he was seven due to political instability.
After completing his secondary education in Scotland, he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wales in 1983.
He then returned to Zimbabwe and worked as a telecommunications engineer.
In 1986, Masiyiwa left his job at the state-owned Posts and Telecommunications Corporation to start his own engineering firm.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to recognize the potential of mobile telecommunications in Zimbabwe. In 1993, he founded Econet Wireless, aiming to become the first privately owned mobile network operator in the country.
Masiyiwa faced numerous obstacles in establishing Econet. The Zimbabwean government, led by Robert Mugabe, viewed his venture as a threat and denied him a license to operate.
This led to a protracted legal battle that lasted five years, during which he nearly went bankrupt.
However, he persevered and finally won the right to operate his business, a landmark ruling that opened up the telecommunications sector in Zimbabwe to private investment.
Econet Wireless launched its services in 1998 and quickly grew into one of Africa’s largest telecommunications companies, expanding into various sectors including mobile banking with EcoCash, which revolutionized financial transactions in Zimbabwe.
In addition to Econet, he established several other companies under the Econet Global umbrella, including operations in countries like Botswana, Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria), and South Africa.
Currently, he has invested in other sectors such as telecommunications, media, energy, and technology.
