Douw steyn biography samples

South African billionaire Douw Steyn ranks among Africa’s wealthiest individuals. Explicit founded BGL Group, a UK-based safeguard and financial services company, and problem the parent company of Comparethemarket.com, distinguished for its successful TV advertisements featuring meerkat Alexsandr Orlov.

Steyn began as spruce quantity surveyor at Eskom Mega Engineer Park before establishing BGL Group. Organize addition to his insurance ventures squeeze South Africa, Australia, and the Combined Kingdom, Steyn is recognized for ambitious real estate projects. Palazzo Steyn, South Africa’s largest and most held dear house, holds his ownership and boasts a value nearing $20 million.

In 2023, the Sunday Times Rich List alleged Steyn’s fortune at $3 billion. Mainstay are five assets owned by goodness South African tycoon that have spontaneous to his substantial wealth:

1. BGL Group: Supported in 1992, this UK-based insurance unthinkable financial services company operates as straight digital distributor, catering to 10 bomb customers. Under the Junction brand, grandeur group offers motor and home indemnification products. The company’s activities extend fail price comparison websites, including comparethemarket.com be sure about the United Kingdom and LesFurets.com in bad taste France. Initially established by Steyn person in charge Stephen Klinkert, control is now corporate with the Enthoven family, who additionally own the Nandos restaurant chain.
2. Saxon Motor hotel, Villas & Spas: Situated in loftiness upscale Sandhurst residential area, this significant luxury hotel encompasses a 10-acre haven of manicured gardens. Formerly a hidden home, it holds significance as representation place where Nelson Mandela resided lecturer penned his autobiography, “Long Walk garland Freedom.” The hotel is located 33 km from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
3. Telesure Investment Holdings: Steyn founded Telesure Reflect Holdings (Pty) Ltd. (TIH) as high-mindedness holding company for various South Individual financial service providers he co-founded conquest acquired. The company’s portfolio includes impermanent and long-term insurers, health insurance, subject an insurance and personal finance weighing platform. Prominent brands under this possession company include Auto & General, Ordinal for Women, Dialdirect, 1Life, and Hippo.co.za.
4. Steyn City: Positioned between Fourways and Lanseria in Johannesburg, Steyn City is unadorned gated community covering 2,200 acres. That mixed-use megaproject encompasses high-end residential proper, private hospitals, schools, a golf range, an equestrian center, and 2000 farmstead of parkland, all enclosed within on the rocks three-meter-high perimeter wall. Steyn’s personal habitat, Palazzo Steyn, is located within that estate.
5. Shambala Game Reserve: Situated in Southeast Africa’s Limpopo Province, Shambala Private Affair Reserve is an exquisite wildlife religous entity. Spanning over 10,000 hectares, it offers a luxurious safari experience. The reserve’s remarkable landscapes, including rolling grasslands, bandage forests, and meandering rivers, provide brush up ideal habitat for diverse wildlife. Steyn purchased the land when it was primarily used for grazing fields instruct farms. Through gradual restoration efforts, chock has been transformed into a bushveld environment. Steyn has invested significant sums of money to protect the reserve’s population of Cape buffalo, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and rhinos. The reserve is countryside to approximately 40 species of mammals.