Nicky Oppenheimer’s bio: age, children, wife, businesses, net worth

Nicky Oppenheimer’s bio: age, children, wife, businesses, net worth

Nicky Oppenheimer is a South African business magnate renowned for his role as the former chairman of De Beers, one of the biggest diamond mining companies in South Africa. Nicky has also been among Africa’s wealthiest men for several years now. Who is Nicky Oppenheimer beyond his remarkably successful diamond business?

Nicky Oppenheimer's net worth
Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of South Africa's diamond giant, De Beers, speaks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Photo: John D Mchugh
Source: Getty Images

Nicky hails from a wealthy family and was born an heir to the Oppenheimer family’s companies, most dealing with the mining and trading of industrial and cosmetic diamonds. Here is a quick look at his life’s details.

Profile summary

Full nameNicholas Frank Oppenheimer
NicknameNicky
GenderMale
Date of birthJune 8, 1945
Age77 years (as of 2022)
ZodiacGemini
Place of birthJohannesburg, South Africa
Current residenceJohannesburg, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
EthnicityCaucasian
ReligionChristian
SexualityStraight
Height in feet and inches5’6”
Height in centimetres171
Weight in pounds154
Weight in kilograms70
Eye colourBrown
Hair colourDark brown
Marital statusMarried
WifeOrcillia Lasch
FatherHarry Frederick Oppenheimer
MotherBridget
Nicky Oppenheimer's sisterMary Slack
Children1
Net worth$8.6 billion
OccupationBusinessman and philanthropist

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Nicky Oppenheimer’s biography

The renowned business magnate was born on 8 June 1945 to Bridget and Harry. This makes him 77 years old as of 2022. Nicky is the grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, the founder of a company known as Anglo American South Africa Limited.

Nicky’s father, Harry, was of German-Jewish descent. Nicky attended Harrow School and later enrolled at Christ Church, Oxford, where he pursued a degree and MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Nicky Oppenheimer’s career

Nicholas' grandfather was among the very first chairmen of De Beers and played a huge role in consolidating the market power it enjoys today. After Ernest died in 1957, Nicky’s father took over the family business and eventually handed it over to his son.

What does Nicky Oppenheimer do? Nicky joined Anglo American South Africa Limited in 1968 and was appointed director four years later. He became the company’s deputy chairman in 1983 and then resigned from the position in 2001. He remained a non-executive director at the company for ten more years, eventually stepping down in 2011.

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Nicholas was appointed chair of De Beers in 1985 and held the position until the company was transferred to Anglo American in 2012.

Philanthropy

The Oppenheimer family has a reputation for its philanthropic endeavours. Nicky, for example, is quite dedicated to the preservation of South Africa’s cultural heritage. He is also actively involved in the improvement of arts, health, education, and natural conservation.

In 2005, the billionaire and his son co-founded the Brenthurst Foundation. The foundation’s focus is on enhancing strategies and policies targeted at improving Africa’s economic performance and facilitating the continent’s pursuit of sustainable development.

Who is Nicky Oppenheimer’s wife?

how to contact Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicky Oppenheimer, age 63, the Chairman of De Beers sits in a De Beers office on March 18, 2008, in Gaborone, Botswana. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson
Source: Getty Images

Nicky married Orcillia ‘Strilli’ Lasch, the daughter of industrial tycoon Helli Lasch. The two got married in a lavish ceremony in 1968. The two were blessed with a son known as Jonathan Oppenheimer, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became a businessman.

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Jonathan is a former executive of De Beers and a former vice president of Anglo American South Africa Limited.

Nicky Oppenheimer's net worth

The Oppenheimer family has been among the richest South African families for three generations now. This started with Ernest Oppenheimer, who gained control of Cecil John Rhodes’ De Beers diamond empire in 1927.

Who is the richest Oppenheimer? Today, Nicky Oppenheimer’s net worth is a whopping $8.6 billion, making him the richest member of the Oppenheimer family. This makes him the third-richest African behind Aliko Dangote and Johann Rupert.

Nicky Oppenheimer's house

What does Nicky Oppenheimer own? The business magnate owns numerous properties, the most significant one being the Tswalu Kalahari, the largest private game reserve in South Africa. Where does Nicky Oppenheimer live? The billionaire owns a mansion in Johannesburg where he lives with his life. Nicky also owns a country estate in Berkshire, England.

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Nicky Oppenheimer's cars

While one might expect the billionaire to have a fleet of cars, given his wealth, this is not the case. Nicky owns a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and a BMW i3 EV. He is also said to have a yacht and a private jet.

How to contact Nicky Oppenheimer

Who is Nicky Oppenheimer and his family?
Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of De Beers, in his office at the headquarters. Photo: Louise Gubb
Source: Getty Images

Here are the different ways one can contact Oppenheimer Partners, the firm that handles communications for the entire family.

  • Location: 13 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
  • Email: info@oppenheimer-partners.com
  • Phone: + 27 11 087 0100

Fun facts

Here are some fascinating facts about the famous South African billionaire.

  • If he spent $1 million every day, his wealth would last him slightly over 23 years.
  • He is the wealthiest member of the Oppenheimer family.
  • The company he once chaired, De Beers, has been operational for 133 years.

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Who is Nicky Oppenheimer and his family?

Nicky is a South African business magnate renowned for his role in De Beers, one of the country’s largest diamond mining companies. His father was Harry, while his paternal grandfather was Ernest, the founder of Anglo American.

Nicky Oppenheimer is one of the richest men in South Africa and the continent at large. His involvement in the diamond business has seen him grow his fortune and fame over the years.

READ ALSO: What is the richest country in Africa in 2022? Top 20 by GDP

Briefly.co.za recently published an article about the richest countries in Africa by GDP. Africa is a powerhouse of resources and innovation. With 54 countries on the continent, much growth and development have been witnessed in recent years.

Some countries have risen above their expected growth rate performance, while others have struggled. Which are the richest African countries, and what are their GDPs in 2022?

Source: Briefly News

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Favour Adeaga (Lifestyle writer) Dr. Favour Adeaga is an author, speaker, and coach. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria. He did his internship at The Nation Newspaper and taught diploma students in Newspaper and Magazine courses at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He has curated the facts and life hacks category since 2018. Dr Favour is the author of several books available on Amazon. He currently lives in Nigeria. Email: favouradeaga@gmail.com

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Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.