Strive Masiyiwa Adds US$100 Million To His Wealth Amid Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Surge
Zimbabwe’s richest man, Strive Masiyiwa, has seen his fortune rise by more than US$100 million, pushing his net worth back to US$1.3 billion. The surge reflects renewed investor confidence in his expanding digital and artificial intelligence ventures across the continent. Below is a deep dive into the man, his empire, and the vision driving his latest success.
The US$100 Million Surge
In less than two weeks, Strive Masiyiwa has regained $100 million, pushing his net worth from a temporary dip of $1.2 billion back to $1.3 billion, according to Forbes. This reaffirms his status as the richest man in Zimbabwe.
The recovery stems from a rebound in the share prices of his key holdings on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange:
- Econet Wireless Zimbabwe: Masiyiwa owns approximately 38% of the publicly-traded telecommunications giant.
- TN CyberTech Investments Holdings Limited: He holds a 33% stake in the mobile money firm, formerly known as EcoCash Holdings.
“The recovery is linked to a surge in Zimbabwe’s stock market, which ultimately restored a large portion of the lost value,” reported Business Insider Africa.
The Masiyiwa Empire
Strive Masiyiwa's journey was not easy. After identifying an opportunity in mobile telecommunications, he overcame protracted government opposition for years, fighting a legal battle to launch his mobile phone network, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, in his country of birth in 1998.
His business interests, primarily held under the Econet Group and Cassava Technologies, are vast and diversified across the globe:
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies: A private company that is a leader in providing fiber optic networks, cloud services, and data centers across Africa.
- Cassava Technologies Portfolio: Includes Africa Data Centres, Liquid C2, Cassava.ai, and Sasai Fintech, operating across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
- Other Assets: His portfolio includes investments in fintech, renewable energy, power distribution firms, and stock options in Netflix, where he has served on the board since December 2020.
Cassava's investors include world-renowned institutions like Google, British International Investment, the International Finance Corporation, and NVIDIA.
Investing in Africa’s AI Future
A key driver of renewed investor confidence is Masiyiwa’s forward-looking strategy, particularly in Artificial Intelligence. In April 2025, Cassava Technologies announced a groundbreaking US$720 million investment to develop Africa’s first AI factory in partnership with tech giant Nvidia.
“Collaborating with Nvidia gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence,” Masiyiwa said.
By September, he had unveiled plans to build five AI factories across Africa within a year, cementing his position at the forefront of the continent's digital revolution.
Philanthropy & Global Influence
Age: 64
Source of Wealth: Telecom, Self Made
Residence: London, United Kingdom
Education: Bachelor of Engineering, University of Wales
Masiyiwa is a globally recognized business leader. He has been named to Fortune Magazine's "World's 50 Greatest Leaders" and is ranked #21 on Forbes' list of Africa's Billionaires (2025).
He and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, are co-founders of the Higherlife Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to supporting orphaned and poor children in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi, and Lesotho through scholarships and other social impact initiatives. As signatories of the Giving Pledge, they have committed the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
His influence extends to some of the world's most prestigious organizations. He currently serves on the boards of:
- Netflix Inc.
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- The National Geographic Society
He also holds advisory roles for the Bank of America, Stanford University, and the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, among many other past and present appointments.
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