Douw Steyn’s bio: age, children, wife, education, cars, house, net worth
Douw Steyn is a South African billionaire businessman. He is best known as the founder of BGL Group, a UK-based insurance and financial services company. The business mogul has links to South African politics. Did you know he housed the late South African president Nelson Mandela at the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa after his release from prison?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Douw Steyn is among the top African billionaires. He was also a close friend of Nelson Mandela. Most people are interested in knowing how he got so much wealth and family life. Here are all the details about his age, children, wife, education, cars, house, and net worth.
Profile summary
| Full name | Douw Gerbrand Steyn |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 19 December 1952 |
| Age | 71 years (as of September 2024) |
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Current residence | South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Light brown |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Carolyn Steyn (m.2013) |
| Partner | Donne Botha (2005-2009) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education |
| Profession | Businessman |
Who is Douw Steyn?
Douw Gerbrand Steyn is a South African business mogul. He is best known as the founder of BGL Group, an insurance and financial services company based in the United Kingdom. His firm is the parent of Comparethemarket.com.
Douw Steyn's age
The wealthy businessman's age is 71 years as of September 2024. He was born on 19 December 1952, and his Zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Is Douw Steyn still alive?
Yes, the business mogul is alive. Due to age, he has largely retreated out of active endeavours. He is currently running his businesses with the support of his family.
Source: Original
Educational background
The avid businessman attended school in Linden in Johannesburg. He earned a degree from Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1978.
How did Douw Steyn make his money?
Douw Steyn started his career as a quantity surveyor at Eskom Mega Watt Park. In 1992, he made a career move that changed his life forever. He founded BGL Group as Budget Insurance Company.
The insurance and financial services company is based in the United Kingdom. It is the parent of Comparethemarket.com.
BGL Group is based in Orton Southgate, Peterborough, England. Home and vehicle insurance are the company's primary services. The firm offers numerous supplementary products like legal protection, breakdown, and personal accident covers.
Who started Steyn City?
The seasoned businessman also ventured into real estate in 2015. He launched the development of a luxury private estate called Steyn City.
Steyn City is on a 900-hectare (2,200-acre) location between Fourways and Lanseria in Johannesburg. Initially, the project initially drew R6.5 billion in investment.
In 2019, a further R5.5 billion was invested in Steyn City. The business mogul also owns Palazzo Steyn Hotel and Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa.
How much is the Steyn family worth?
A report by TimesLive shows that Douw Steyn's net worth is £2.1 billion (about R42 billion). This net worth is shared with his nuclear family members. In 2022, his fortune increased by £50 million (about R991 million), making him one of the richest people in South Africa today.
How much is Douw Steyn's house?
Douw Steyn's house is located in Steyn City, just outside Fourways. Dubbed Palazzo Steyn or Steyn Palace, the house was valued at R250 million in 2014 when it was completed. It is said to be the most expensive home in South Africa.
The house takes most of its inspiration from classical Italian design. It features a bronze dome in the entrance hall and marble floors. It also features an aqueduct that almost circles the property.
Inside, some of the lounges echo Gatsby-era decor and design. On the other hand, the outdoor areas feature stylings from the Middle East, Europe, India, and Africa.
Many people are curious about Douw Steyn's cars. The business mogul owns a collection of classic and vintage cars allegedly worth around $30 million. His most expensive car is the Bugatti Centre, valued at $12 million. A custom-made 2010 Rolls-Royce (Douwmobile) is part of his collection.
Who is Douw Steyn's wife?
Douw Steyn's wife is Carolyn Steyn. Most people refer to her as the billionaire's wife. Carolyn moved from Johannesburg to Hollywood to become an actress.
She found a breakthrough ten years after she relocated to the USA. She has been featured in multiple Hollywood movies. Besides acting, Carolyn runs a philanthropic initiative called 67 Blankets.
67 Blankets helps needy South Africans as a way of commemorating Nelson Mandela's life and legacy. Douw and Carolyn Steyn's wedding was held in the Saxon Boutique Hotel in February 2013.
Graca Machel, Michael de Pinna, and Timothy Moloi were among the prominent figures who attended the ceremony. According to Carolyn Steyn's Instagram profile, she is currently a film producer, actress, voice artist, and francophile.
Who are Douw Steyn's children?
Douw Steyn's family stays away from the limelight. Steyn’s sons are Louis and Tjaart Steyn, alias TJ, and their mother is Elizabeth Margaret Steyn. The siblings are actively involved in charity. They set up a foundation called the Elizabeth Margaret Steyn Foundation (EMSF) in honour of their mom.
Did Douw Steyn and Donne Botha marry?
Donne Botha was the business mogul's partner from 2005 to 2009. She was a personal trainer when she met Steyn at a party in 2005 in Sandton. The two allegedly held a ceremony in a London-based hotel in 2007.
In 2014, Donne claimed that she married the business mogul and sued for half of his estate. She also demanded R100,000 per month until his death or remarriage. Botha said they returned to the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg after the London ceremony.
She admitted that their union was not registered. He, on the other hand, referred to the ceremony as a 'blessing ceremony'.
The duo needed two weeks to get a marriage license. She also revealed that they continued to travel together until they ended their relationship in 2009. Douw called British solicitor Adrian Christmas as his witness before the court.
Christmas said Douw called him shortly before the "blessing ceremony" to say he could not comply with the special marriage license requirements in time as per English law.
Christmas also testified he was summoned to the couple's home a few months after the ceremony because they wanted a cohabiting arrangement. He presented a document that proved the R1 million Botha would get if they broke up.
Reverend Canon Simon Wilkinson said there was no reference to marriage, wedding, union, groom or bride when he presided over their London ceremony.
He also stated he was not authorised to perform a civil wedding ceremony as a clergyman. In August 2021, the Durban High Court ruled that Douw Steyn and Donne Botha were never married and recommended a punitive cost order against Botha.
Douw Steyn's illness
It is apparent that age is catching up with Douw Steyn. At his age, illness is inevitable. On 19 December 2023, his wife took to Facebook to wish him a happy birthday.
She said that even though her husband was facing certain health struggles and challenges, he was happier in life than he had been in so many years. She also said that she continues to live with stringent COVID-19 protocols in order to keep him safe.
Trivia
- Douw owns a charity organisation called the Douw Steyn Family Trust.
- The businessman pledged R320 million to South Africa in April 2020 as a coronavirus relief donation through his charity foundation.
- The billionaire does not own any verified social media account.
- The businessman avoids attention from the public and prefers a low-key life.
- He is an animal lover.
Douw Steyn has been among the top richest people in South Africa for a long time. Owing to his entrepreneurial nature, the billionaire has invested in lucrative sectors like rental properties and insurance.
Briefly.co.za recently published a list of the richest Indians in South Africa and their net worth. Indians in Africa contribute much to the growth and development of the continent's economy, irrespective of the country they are in.
In South Africa, many Indians have distinguished themselves as great entrepreneurs and industrialists and are now enviable employers.
Source: Briefly News
Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 5 years of experience writing articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019. The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies & gaming reviews, culture & travel. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
