SA’s Richest Lady Wendy Appelbaum

South Africa celebrates Women’s Month in August… Here are five facts about Wendy Appelbaum, South Africa’s richest woman with a net worth of R2.6 billion.

Wendy Appelbaum, Mzansi’s richest lady, was born in 1961 to billionaire couple Sir Donald Gordon and Peggy Gordon. Gordon was a South African entrepreneur who established the Liberty Life Association of Africa in 1957.

She is her parents’ only child, but she has two brothers, Richard and Graeme. They were raised in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Briefly estimates her net worth at R2.6 billion.

Here are five facts about Mzansi’s richest lady.

1. APPELBAUM STUDIED AT WITS

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

2. SHE STARTED HER OWN INVESTMENT COMPANY

Appelbaum started her own venture – an investment company called Wiphold along with ten other ladies. The company aimed to empower women from various walks of life.

“Wiphold was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life… We empowered women that were technically completely disadvantaged, really empowered them to understand how to invest and take a little bit of money and make it a lot,” she said according to How We Made It In Africa.

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

3. APPELBAUM STARTED HER OWN WINE FARM IN STELLENBOSCH

The billionaire decided to sell her shares in the Liberty Group. She bought a wine farm called DeMorgenzon Wine Estate in 2003. The wine farm is 224 acres of garden vineyard where abundant wildflowers grow between the vines and is located in Stellenbosch

4. SHE IS MARRIED TO HYLTON APPELBAUM

Wendy is married to Hylton Appelbaum, a trustee of the Kagiso Trust and a director of its subsidiaries, Kagiso Capital and Kagiso Media and more.