Who is SA’s richest woman, Wendy Appelbaum?

August marks Women’s Month in South Africa – here are five things to know about South Africa’s richest woman, Wendy Appelbaum, who is worth R2.6 billion.

WHO WENDY APPELBAUM?

The richest lady in Mzansi, Wendy Appelbaum, was born in the family of billionaires Sir Donald Gordon and Peggy Gordon in 1961. Gordon was a South African businessman who founded the African Liberty Life Association in 1957.

She is the only daughter of her parents, but she has two brothers – Richard and Graham. They grew up in Johannesburg, Gauteng. According to Brafli, her net worth is 2.6 billion rand.

Here are five things to know about Mzansi’s richest lady.

1. APPELBAUM STUDIED AT VITS

According to Entrepreneurs.ng, Appelbaum studied psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). After that, she worked for her father’s company, Liberty Group, and became a director of Liberty Investors.

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2. SHE STARTED HER OWN INVESTMENT COMPANY

Appelbaum, together with ten other ladies, opened her own enterprise – an investment company called Wiphold. The campaign was aimed at empowering women from different walks of life.

“Wiphold was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life… We empowered women who were technically at a disadvantage, really gave them the opportunity to understand how to invest and take a little money to make it a lot,” she said according to with How We Made in Africa.

“There was an incredible amount of energy in that boardroom. I’ve never been in a boardroom so well since,” she continued.

3. APPELBAUM STARTED HER OWN WINE FARM IN STELLENBOSCH

The billionaire decided to sell her shares in Liberty Group. In 2003, she purchased a wine farm called DeMorgenzon Wine Estate. The wine farm is 224 hectares of garden vineyards with abundant wildflowers growing between the vines and is located in Stellenbosch.

4. SHE’S IN LOVE WITH HILTON APPELBAUM

Wendy is married to Hilton Appelbaum, a trustee of the Kagiso Trust and a director of its subsidiaries Kagiso Capital and Kagiso Media, among others.