Gone are the days where tv stars used to be exploited berholiswa imali encinci. Remember how the likes of Ray Ntlokwana (of Velaphi fame) died without having anything to show for his work or even the legendary Ken Gampu (of Ingqumbo Yeminyanya and many other drama's )that made our childhoods wonderful. Hayi ke sana those were the days when greedy and exploitative industry moguls took advantage of artists. Now our entertainers are cashing in on their talents (and lack thereof), making the entertainment industry one helluva moola spinning machine. Trust Babini to go out of his way to bring you the top 20 richest stars eMzansi. Without wasting time (I hate long essays) here we go....oh wait- I must say i'LL GIVE YOU FROM NUMBER 20 DOWN TO 11 for 2 reasons:
1. I have to thoroughly research for my top 10 list.
2. There's not enough space:
Anyways here's a list of Mzansi's top 20 high fliers:
20.Rebecca Malope
The general consensus yamabloggers is that this person is not liked as a presenter (don’t know why- personally I don’t dislike or like her). Anyways moving on.
Wealth: 3.6 million.
Source: she’s the biggest selling SA artist to date- sold over 10million copies in her career (even though there are a lot of people who have sold less than 1% of this figure but have more money than her) and work as a presenter for Gospel time
19.Babalwa Mneno:
She has to be the richest black model in the country (even though I must admitt that I've never seen her modelling)
Wealth: she has an estimated net worth of R3.9 million
Source of wealth: Ive just told you that she's a model but that's not it, she chairs a cheerleading club (for Sundowns) and believe me Sundowns People got a lot of cash.
18.Kabelo 'Bouga Dilika Mantwana' Mabalane
Has to be the longest standing kwaito star in this country to date (though not the richest- or second richest).
Wealth: has an estimated net worth of R4.7 million
Source of wealth: has sold music albums (gold and platinum) as a member of TKZEE but most notably as a solo artist.
He is also the ONLY kwaito star (and the only entertainer) who managed to snatch a lucrative deal with Reebock and branched his own label(Bouga Luv) under the Reebok giant.
Sometimes works as Master of ceremonies (seldom though).
17. DJ Rudeboy
DJ's are making a helluva lot of cash and he's the only DJ who doesn’t play "pop" house who has made it to this list.
Wealth: estimated net worth of R6.8 million (inclusive of the mortgage value of his plush home in Fourways Johannesburg, artworks, car-Jeep Wrangler etc)
Source: works as a poet, drummer musician, vocalist, emcee, tvpresenter, DJ, actor, former editor and Chief Executive Director of Rudeboy Productions. Azanian Pulse the 2nd offering sold over 20000 copies and he does gigs a lot,
16. Dj Sbu
Has made his wealth faster than ANY other DJ in any radio stationin this country.
Wealth: Estimated net worth of 6.9 million (including mortgage value of his posh house in Jozi’s northern suburbs and his three luxury cars)
Source: he’s a DJ (dah! His song glitched SAMA best song of the year just now), radio announcer, tv presenter , Record producer and character creator (remember the mzekezeke character- made more money than any other “non- existent person) Mzekezeke is said to have sold 400000- more than Sbu himself.
15. MANDOZA.
The second richest kwaito star and THE ONLY kwaito star who makes money out of music ALONE. Glitched 5 metro awards in 2000 and sold hundreds of thousands of albums. The only kwaito star to have successfully branched into the white market. Made lots of moola but lost momentum with abodakhi when he took the collaboration too seriously.
Wealth: net worth of R8.7 million( incl house and cars)
14.SOMIZI MHLONGO
The richest dancer in SA, possibly in the whole of Africa. His career began with Srafina in the mid-late 80’s and he travelled the world and perfomed many westen countries( hey ndikhathe le kukubhala ngoku maybe let’s leave it at that ( kidding). He also stars in and produces his own tv show.
Wealth: net worth of 10.8 million
13. ASHLEY CALLIE (Lee on Isidingo)
Wealth: figure is yet to be approved there fore I can’t show it.
Source: She is not just an actress but the proud owner of a very upmarket restaurant.
12.BASETSANA MAKGALIMELE
Who doesn’t know this former Miss SA
Wealth: figure is yet to be approved.
11.CAROL BOUWER.
This lady was accompanying a friend to the SABC studio when she got her first tv job (nisamkhumbula ku-“Linempoxo ke isiko”?). She was still trying to figure out how she’ll pay for her studies (was doing a BA in psychology but never completed). She went on to present Buzz, then Motswako, now she is Executive producer of Motswako.
Wealth: net worth of R17.2 million (including her house and cars but that is not her overall worth, she is married to a very rich guy but we don’t know if they have shared power of attorney so we won’t be too adventurous- if they do that would mean she is worth over R85 million but we’ll stick to this figure for now).
*Now don’t think these people have solid cash, they are hustlers like you and me. Infact SA is said to have 53 000 dollar millionaires and these guys are none of them so please respect their privacy.
NB; There are a lot of other rich entertainers but Ive left them out coz they're not TV stars- so to say (E.G. Gareth Cliff, DJ Fresh and Glen Lewis are richer than the any of these Dj’s above) Now without going on foeva, I’ll deliver you the top 10 nxtwk. Watch this space…..