Top 10 richest people from South South Nigeria

The South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria—encompassing Delta, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River states—is home to several of the nation's wealthiest entrepreneurs, industrial leaders, and financial pioneers. Many have made their fortunes across key industries such as energy, upstream oil exploration, banking, private equity, and technology.

1. Tony Elumelu

1. State of Origin: Delta State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$1.5 – $2.1 Billion
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Banking, Financial Services, Energy, Hospitality
4. Key Assets: Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Transcorp. Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

2. Benedict Peters

1. State of Origin: Delta State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$1.0 – $1.2 Billion
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Oil & Gas, Energy Trading, Mining
4. Key Assets: Founder and CEO of Aiteo Group, one of Nigeria's largest indigenous energy and commodity trading conglomerates.

3. Jim Ovia

1. State of Origin: Delta State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$850 – $980 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Banking, Real Estate, Telecommunications
4. Key Assets: Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Visafone (acquired by MTN), and extensive commercial property holdings in Lagos.

4. Chief Gabriel Igbinedion

1. State of Origin: Edo State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$500 – $850 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Conglomerate, Education, Real Estate, Aviation
4. Key Assets: The Esama of Benin Kingdom; founder of Igbinedion University (Nigeria's first private university) and the Kada business empire (hospitality, broadcasting, and media).

5. Igho Sanomi

1. State of Origin: Delta State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$500 – $700 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Oil & Gas Trading, Maritime, Power
4. Key Assets: Founder of Taleveras Group, an international energy and oil-trading firm operating across Africa and Europe.

6. Mitchell Elegbe

1. State of Origin: Edo State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$300 – $500 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Fintech & Financial Technology
4. Key Assets: Founder and Group Managing Director/CEO of Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s premier integrated payments and digital commerce platforms.

7. Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs

1. State of Origin: Rivers State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$400 – $500 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Oil & Gas Exploration, Maritime Logistics
4. Key Assets: Chairman of DLB Group and Moni Pulo Limited (indigenous upstream oil exploration company).

8. Tonye Cole

1. State of Origin: Rivers State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$150 – $250 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Energy, Infrastructure, Real Estate
4. Key Assets: Co-founder of Sahara Group, a major multinational energy and infrastructure conglomerate operating across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

9. Atedo Peterside

1. State of Origin: Rivers State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$120 – $180 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Investment Banking, Asset Management, Stockbroking
4. Key Assets: Founder of IBTC Chartered Bank (now Stanbic IBTC Holdings) and founder of Anap Business Coalition.

10. Tein Jack-Rich

1. State of Origin: Rivers State
2. Estimated Net Worth: ~$100 – $150 Million
3. Primary Source of Wealth: Indigenous Oil & Gas Exploration
4. Key Assets: Founder and President of Belemaoil Producing Limited, the first indigenous company to operate a marginal field oil block in Nigeria.