Koos Bekker

Quick Facts

Full Name	Koos Bekker
Date Of Birth	Dec 14, 1952(1952-12-14)
Age	72
Birthplace	Potchefstroom
Country	South Africa
Birth City	North West
Horoscope	Sagittarius

Koos Bekker Biography

Koos Bekker is one of the most popular and richest Businessman who was born on December 14, 1952 in Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa.

Jacobus Petrus “Koos” Bekker (born 14 December 1952) is a South African billionaire businessman, and the chairman of media group Naspers. The company operates in 130 countries, is listed on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, and has the largest market capitalization of any media company outside the US and China.

After a few years in advertising, he received an MBA degree from Columbia Business School, graduating in 1984. As a result of a project paper, he, with a few young colleagues, founded one of the first two pay-television services outside of the US. M-Net and its sister companies, such as Multichoice, eventually expanded to 48 countries across Africa. In the 1990s, he was a founding director of mobile communication company MTN. In 1997 Bekker became CEO of Naspers, one of the initial investors in the M-Net/Multichoice group. Naspers bought out the other shareholders. During his tenure, the market capitalization of Naspers grew from about $1.2 billion to $45 billion. His compensation package was unusual in that for fifteen years as CEO he earned no salary, bonus or perks. He was compensated solely via stock option grants that vested over time.

Koos Bekker was born in Potchefstroom, South Africa on 14 December 1952. He attended Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg and completed degrees at Stellenbosch University, in law and literature, and at Wits University, in law. During his studies in Stellenbosch, he was a hostel boarder of Eendrag Manskoshuis.

Koos Bekker Net Worth

Net Worth: Koos Bekker is estimated to have a net worth of 2.4 billion USD in 2020, which primarily comes from his involvement in media group Naspers. This sprawling empire is operational in 130 countries and is listed on both the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, boasting the largest market capitalization of any media company outside the US, China, and India. Compared to other media moguls and global business people, Bekker’s wealth is significant and is a testament to his acumen and strategic investment choices.

Early Life: Born in Potchefstroom, South Africa in 1952, Bekker showed promise early on. He pursued degrees in law and literature at Stellenbosch University, and later honed his grasp of legal nuances at Wits University. His education paved the way for a prosperous career in business, further solidified by an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Stellenbosch University.

Career and Financial Growth: Bekker’s career took a favorable turn when he co-founded one of the first two pay-television services outside of the US, a result of a project while at Columbia Business School. The company, M-Net, expanded to 48 countries across Africa and became a significant contributor to Bekker’s wealth. His subsequent role as founding director of the mobile communication company MTN, and later as CEO of Naspers, saw immense growth in his wealth, with the market capitalization of Naspers rising from about $1.2 billion to $45 billion under his guidance. His unique compensation package, in the form of stock options, further cemented his financial standing.

Source of Net Worth: The primary contributor to Bekker’s net worth is his involvement and investment in media companies and services, such as M-Net, MTN, and Naspers. These businesses have expanded to multiple international markets, garnering considerable market capitalization and ultimately, influencing Bekker’s personal wealth. Additionally, it is of note that his tenure as CEO of Naspers did not see the typical salary or perks, but rather, was fuelled by stock grants which gradually matured.

Personal Projects and Ventures: While Bekker’s primary occupation revolves around media services and communications, his influence extends to other realms, from lobbying for the interests of his companies to various investments in internet services. Furthermore, he engaged in ventures in diversified markets, such as Europe, Africa, Latin America, China, India, Russia, along with other smaller countries, thereby expanding his portfolio.

Philanthropy: Whilst the specific philanthropic activities of Koos Bekker are not mentioned, it is common amongst businessmen of his standing to contribute significantly toward social causes or invest in uplifting communities, be it through education, arts, or healthcare.

Recent Developments: In 2020, Bekker was accused of exerting undue pressure on government officials to protect MultiChoice’s monopoly over South Africa’s pay-TV sector. Allegations such as these could potentially impact his net worth, depending on the outcome of the legal procedures and the subsequent effects on his businesses. In a rapidly evolving business landscape, one must consider how such incidents and economic shifts could reshape their financial future.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Koos Bekker height Not available right now. Koos weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Koos Bekker Dating?

According to our records, Koos Bekker married to Karen Roos. As of January 13, 2024, Koos Bekker’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Koos Bekker. You may help us to build the dating records for Koos Bekker!

Facts & Trivia

Koos Ranked on the list of most popular Businessman. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in South Africa. Koos Bekker celebrates birthday on December 14 of every year.

Top Facts about Koos Bekker

1. Koos Bekker is a South African billionaire businessman.
2. He was born on December 14, 1952 in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
3. Bekker is the former CEO of Naspers, a media and internet company.
4. During his tenure, Naspers’ market value grew from $600 million to over $100 billion.
5. He stepped down as CEO in 2019 but remains chairman of the board.
6. Bekker has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people.
7. He holds degrees from both Stellenbosch University and Wits Business School.
8. Bekker is also a philanthropist and has donated millions to education initiatives in South Africa.
9. In 2020, he pledged R1 billion ($60 million) towards COVID-19 relief efforts in South Africa.
10. His net worth is estimated at $2 billion according to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List (as of August 2021).

How did Koos Bekker make his money?

He was compensated solely via stock option grants that vested over time. The Forbes 2019 list of The World’s Billionaires ranked Bekker as the 1002nd- wealthiest person in the world, and the fourth-wealthiest South African, with a fortune of US$2.3 billion.

Why is Koos Bekker famous?

Koos Bekker is revered for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an e-commerce investor and cable TV powerhouse. He led Naspers to pay a reported $34 million for a third of Chinese Internet firm Tencent Holdings in 2001–perhaps the greatest venture investment ever.

How old is Koos Bekker?

69 years (December 14, 1952)

How do I contact Koos Bekker?

Name :Koos Bekker
Email :| [email protected]
Phone :| xxxxxxxxxx
| View Phone

Who is the richest family in South Africa?

Everyone in South Africa knows of Johann Rupert. Not only is the 71-year- old entrepreneur the second wealthiest person on the African continent, he is also South Africa’s richest citizen. According to Forbes, the super wealthy Rupert currently boasts a bank balance of almost US$8 billion.