Meet Strive Masiyiwa Britain’s First Black Billionaire

Strive Masiyiwa: From Engineer to Britain’s First Black Billionaire – Leading the Telecom Revolution and Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape.

Introducing the Zimbabwean Visionary Who Became Britain’s First Black Billionaire

After completing his studies in Electrical Engineering, Strive Masiyiwa launched his career in the UK before returning to Zimbabwe in 1984. He initially worked as an engineer for the state-owned Zimbabwe Posts but left in 1987 to follow his entrepreneurial dreams. With only $75 in savings, he started a construction company, which he later expanded into telecommunications by 1993. Despite facing significant government resistance, he successfully established Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe’s first mobile network. His achievements continued as he branched out into other African nations, including the creation of Nigeria’s first mobile network in 2001.

Today, Masiyiwa ranks as the 110th wealthiest individual in the UK, boasting a net worth of £1.5 billion, and holds the title of Britain’s first black billionaire. He owns 38% of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and 33% of EcoCash, a mobile payments company with an annual turnover of $3 billion. Masiyiwa also holds a major stake in Liquid Intelligent Technologies, which provides fibre optic and cloud solutions across Africa, generating $800 million annually. Beyond his African ventures in fintech and energy distribution, he is a shareholder in Netflix and has served on its board since December 2020. Having moved to the UK in the 1990s, Masiyiwa eventually became a permanent resident, solidifying his place as a prominent figure in the global business world.