Nicky Oppenheimer
| Nicky Oppenheimer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 June 1945 South Africa |
| Residence | South Africa, United Kingdom, United States |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Net worth |  US$ 6.5 billion(March 2013)[1] |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Spouse(s) | Orcillia Lasch |
| Children | one |
| Parents | Harry Oppenheimer Bridget McCall |
Nicholas "Nicky" F. Oppenheimer (born 8 June 1945) is a South African businessman, the chairman of the De Beers diamond mining company and its subsidiary, the Diamond Trading Company. He also has a large financial interest in the diversified mining company Anglo American. In 1999 he joined forces with two of his friends to form Greene and Partners Investments a venture capital firm which has funded a diversity of projects within South Africa and around Africa. In November 2011 the Oppenheimer family sold the entirety of their 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American.[2] He and his family control the Tswalu game reserve in the Kalahari,[3] set up by his friend Stephen Boler.
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Early life [edit]
Nicholas is the son of Bridget (née McCall) and Harry Oppenheimer,[4] and grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, the first generation of the family to chair (from 1929) the De Beers diamond mining company in South Africa, founded by Cecil John Rhodes in 1888. He is of German Jewish descent on his father's side.
He was educated in England at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and later took the Oxford MA.
Forbes "World's Richest People" List of billionaires (2008) estimated his net worth at £2.8 billion in 2008.[5]
In 1968 he married Orcillia "Strilli" Lasch, daughter of industrial tycoon Helli Lasch. He lives mainly in Johannesburg on the Brenthurst Gardens estate. He and his wife are members of the St George's Anglican Church, Parktown, Johannesburg. The Brenthurst Garden is affiliated to The Quiet Garden Trust, a Christian organisation providing places for prayer, silence and reflection. He also has a country estate in England, Waltham Place (with gardens open to the public and an associated organic Farm), at White Waltham in Berkshire.
Controversy [edit]
He was criticised amidst public attention in the West after the film Blood Diamond.
He commented in 2005 that the Live8 concert was misguided, and that Africa is suffering from "donation fatigue" and that it was in Africa's interest for those with the resources to instead invest in income generating projects rather than just donate money. This is the principle upon which his investment company Greene and Partners was formed.[6] He is the only private person granted permission by the City of London to commute within the one square mile of the city by helicopter.[7]
Publications [edit]
- Luke Over, Nicky Oppenheimer, and Chris Tyrrell (Illustrator) - Waltham Place: and its Surrounding Parish (2001) ISBN 0-9541669-0-6
See also [edit]
Footnotes [edit]
- ^ Forbes: "The World's Billionaires: Nicky Oppenheimer & family March 2013
- ^ AFP (November 4, 2011). "Oppenheimers leave the diamond race with $5bn sale". Mail and Guardian. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ Tswalu site
- ^ http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/diamond/chap12.htm
- ^ "Nicky Oppenheimer". The Times (London). 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2009-10-11. Text "Sunday Times " ignored (help); Unknown parameter
|=ignored (help) - ^ Terry Macalister (2005-07-02). "I am an African". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ^ "On a Rotor and Prayer". CIX Online. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
External links [edit]
- Biography from De Beers
- Oppenheimer's Waltham Place Gardens and Farm
- Interview in The Guardian, 2005
- Profile in The Economist, 2003
- Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People
| Preceded by Harry Frederick Oppenheimer |
Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines circa 1983-Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
