Nassef Sawiris is the owner of Aston Villa and the richest person in Egypt (Image: Getty)
You may know him as the billionaire co-owner of , but Nassef Sawiris is also the man in Egypt and the fourth richest person in Africa, according to the Forbes Billionaire List 2024. The Egyptian businessman gained his wealth primarily through his leadership in construction and engineering as well as his investments. He is also the son of Onsi Sawiris, who founded the Orascom Group conglomerate in 1950, which Nassef Sawiris joined in 1982.
The Sawiris are the wealthiest family in Egypt owning the Orascom Group, a conglomerate that includes Orascom Telecom Holding, Orascom Technology Solutions, Orascom Construction Industries, and Orascom Hotels and Development. Nassef Sawiris runs Orascom Construction Industries (OCI), an engineering and construction contractor and one of the world’s largest producers of nitrogen fertilisers.
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He and Edens bought Aston Villa in 2018. (Image: Getty)
In 2004, he helped acquire a 50% stake in Besix and served on its board and also served on the boards of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges and the Dubai International Financial Exchange.
In 2015, he became a board member of LafargeHolcim, sustainable building materials having previously served on the board of Lafarge SA since 2008.
Sawiris is also widely known for its investments in sports.
The investor acquired a 5% interest in Madison Square Garden Sports in 2020, a company that owns the NBA’s Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers.
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Nassef Sawiris holds a nearly 6% stake in Adidas and partnered with Wes Edens of Fortress Investment Group to acquire Aston Villa Football Club in 2018.
A graduate of the University of Chicago, he pledged £18.6 million to the institution in 2019 to support Egyptian students and establish an executive education program.
Currently based in the UK, it has recently been reported that Nassef Sawiris is considering relocating elsewhere due to potential tax changes.