Johann Rupert

Johann Rupert

Johann Rupert
Born (1950-06-01) June 1, 1950
Stellenbosch
Residence Somerset West
Citizenship South African
Education Stellenbosch University
Occupation Chairman of Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA[1]
Known for Luxury goods
Net worth Increase US$7.9 billion[2]
Spouse(s) Gaynor Rupert; 3 children
Parent(s) Anton and Huberte Rupert

Johann Peter Rupert (born 1 June 1950) is the eldest son of South African business tycoon Anton Rupert and his wife Huberte. He is the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury-goods company Richemont as well as of the South Africa-based company Remgro. It was announced on 13 November 2009 that as of 1 April 2010, he would assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of Compagnie Financiere Richemont. Together with his family he was estimated to be worth $7.7 billion as of September 2013 and Forbes ranked him as one of the five richest Africans.[3]

Personal life

Rupert grew up in Stellenbosch, where he attended Paul Roos Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch, studying economics and company law. He dropped out of the university to pursue a career in business, however, in 2004, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate in Economics.[4]

In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Commerce from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.[5] Described as "reclusive" by the Financial Times and Barron's, Rupert rarely gives interviews and shuns public events. In 2006 the same newspaper also called him "Rupert the Bear" for predicting a world economic crisis. As of 2013, Rupert is currently on a one-year sabbatical.[6]

Business career

Rupert served his business apprenticeship in New York City, where he worked for Chase Manhattan for two years and for Lazard Freres for three years. He then returned to South Africa in 1979 and founded Rand Merchant Bank of which he was CEO.

Selected as the 2009 International Wine Entrepreneur of the Year at the Meininger "Excellence in Wine and Spirit" awards ceremony in Düsseldorf, Germany.[7]
Awarded Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by The university of St. Andrews, Scotland[10]

Other Interests

Rupert is a former cricketer and founded the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in 1990. Laureus funds 65 projects globally, with the goal of using sport to tackle social issues, having a particular emphasis on underprivileged children. He co-founded the Sports Science Institute[11] with his friends Morne du Plessis and Tim Noakes. Rupert also developed the Gary Player designed, Leopard Creek Golf Club in Mpumalanga, South Africa which is one of South Africa's top three golf courses, and rated number 25 outside the United States of America (Golf Digest)). He has also played in the annual Gary Player Invitational golf tournament to assist fellow South African and friend Gary Player raise funds for various children's charities. He serves as Chairman of the South African PGA Tour and Chairman of the South African Golf Development Board. In 2007 he was elected into South African Sports Hall of Fame and in 2009 was inducted into South African Golf Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

Following his younger brother Anthonij's death in a car accident in 2001 he took over the L'Ormarins wine estate. Anthonij, was head of Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons. Rupert initiated a project to enhance the farm in memory of his late brother.[citation needed]

He was council member of The South Africa Foundation and trustee of the Southern African Nature Foundation, The Institute of Directors in Southern Africa, Business South Africa and Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and Managing Trustee and member of the investment committee, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. He served on the Daimler Chrysler International Advisory Board.[citation needed]

Following in the footsteps of his father, Anton, Johann Rupert is also a committed conservationist. In addition to personally conserving about 25,000 hectares in the Graaff Reinet area, he is also Chairman of the Peace Parks Foundation.[citation needed]

Controversies

When the British design magazine Wallpaper* described the Afrikaans language as "the ugliest language in the world" in its September 2005 edition (in reference to the Afrikaans Language Monument), Rupert responded by withdrawing advertising for his companies' brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc and Alfred Dunhill from the magazine.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Forbes Welcome". forbes.com. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Forbes Welcome". forbes.com. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Five Richest Africans", Forbes, page 118; 2 September 2013; accessed 3 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chancellor". sun.ac.za. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Synchronised Speakers | Johann Rupert". synchronisedspeakers.co.za. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Profile, watchtime.com; accessed 3 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Meininger Award 2006". Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Chancellor - Profile of Dr Johan Rupert". Sun.ac.za. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Johann Rupert becomes Honorary Life Vice President". European Tour. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "2010". St-andrews.ac.uk. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Home". Ssisa.com. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 16 February 2006. Archived from the original on 16 February 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
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