Details

Legal Name	Jacobus Petrus Bekker
Born	December 14, 1952 (Age 73 Years)
Nationality	South African
Alma mater	University of the Witwatersrand, Columbia University
Spouse	Karen Roos
Children	4
Net Worth	US$3.6 Billion (October 2026)

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Early Life and Education

Koos Bekker, whose full name is Jacobus Petrus Bekker, was born on 14 December 1952 in Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa. He attended Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg for his secondary education. Bekker pursued higher education at Stellenbosch University, where he completed degrees in law and literature. He later attended the University of the Witwatersrand, earning a law degree, and obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York in 1984.

Career

Bekker began his career in the advertising industry before transitioning to the media sector. He was instrumental in the founding of M-Net, one of the first pay-television services outside the United States, in the 1980s. This venture eventually led to the establishment of MultiChoice, which expanded its operations across 48 countries in Africa.

In 1991, Bekker co-founded MTN, which has grown to become Africa's largest mobile telecommunications company. He became the CEO of Naspers in 1997, a role he held until 2014. Under his leadership, Naspers transformed from a small newspaper publisher into a major global media and technology company. The market capitalization of Naspers increased significantly during his tenure, growing from approximately $1.2 billion to $45 billion.

Bekker's strategic investments included a notable $32 million investment in Tencent in 2001, which has since become one of the largest internet companies globally. Naspers has held a significant stake in Tencent, which has contributed to the company's valuation and expansion into various sectors, including pay television, mobile telephony, and internet services.

After retiring as CEO in 2014, Bekker returned as chairman of Naspers in 2015. He also serves as the chairman of Prosus, a global consumer internet group that was spun off from Naspers.

Personal Life

Koos Bekker is married to Karen Roos, and the couple has four children. They reside in Cape Town, South Africa. Bekker has been involved in various property developments, including Hadspen House in Somerset, England, which has been transformed into a luxury hotel and visitor attraction known as The Newt in Somerset. He has also owned Babylonstoren, a historic wine estate in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, since 2007.

See where Koos Bekker ranks on the top 50 list of the richest people in South Africa in 2026.