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Anton Rupert: A Biography
The extraordinary life story of South African tycoon and philanthropist Dr Anton Rupert.
It is the story of a Karoo boy who grew up during the Depression, struggled to find enough money to study science, and then made good as a businessman - spectacularly so, reaching the Forbes list of the 500 wealthiest people worldwide. Unlike Harry Oppenheimer, another South African millionaire, Rupert was no heir and did not make his millions from mining. His Rembrandt group of manufacturers became known across the globe, owning brands like Cartier, Dunhill, Rothmans and Montblanc. Within a few decades a family dynasty was built, making the Ruperts, next to the Oppenheimers, the richest family in Africa.
But Rupert was driven by more than the mere pursuit of wealth. A life-long proponent of partnership and coexistence in justice, he put his passion and vast resources into community development, leading to frequent clashes with the political leadership of the day. He supported arts and culture, and conservation - both of buildings and of nature. One of his most ambitious projects, transfrontier parks, was a ground-breaking international innovation.
A compelling book based on extensive international research and many hours of conversation with Rupert, his family and people who know him well.
It is the story of a Karoo boy who grew up during the Depression, struggled to find enough money to study science, and then made good as a businessman - spectacularly so, reaching the Forbes list of the 500 wealthiest people worldwide. Unlike Harry Oppenheimer, another South African millionaire, Rupert was no heir and did not make his millions from mining. His Rembrandt group of manufacturers became known across the globe, owning brands like Cartier, Dunhill, Rothmans and Montblanc. Within a few decades a family dynasty was built, making the Ruperts, next to the Oppenheimers, the richest family in Africa.
But Rupert was driven by more than the mere pursuit of wealth. A life-long proponent of partnership and coexistence in justice, he put his passion and vast resources into community development, leading to frequent clashes with the political leadership of the day. He supported arts and culture, and conservation - both of buildings and of nature. One of his most ambitious projects, transfrontier parks, was a ground-breaking international innovation.
A compelling book based on extensive international research and many hours of conversation with Rupert, his family and people who know him well.
- GenresBiographySouth Africa
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
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81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 27, 2013
The book was interesting but to be honest, it becomes a nauseating read half way through because “Rupert knows this and he knows that” and he is “the oracle of trademarks” and a “visionary” blah blah blah. The man can do no wrong and we should all just go down on our knees and worship him is almost the message one gets. Obviously Ebbe Domisse was paid to write the book but still, nobody builds that kind of an empire in a lifetime without having a solid trustworthy management team around them. It is physically impossible, but I am afraid the book don’t make much mention of the “unsung heroes”. Maybe they have their share options to keep themselves warm at night? I have also read Louis Luyt’s book and he had quite a different view on “Mnr AE”. I guess all the big guns have their egos to please.
December 31, 2022
The book painted a picture of Anton Rupert, and of his son Johann Rupert, that I have not seen before. I live in South Africa (the home of the Ruperts) and what I knew about the Ruperts was informed by stories told by friends, media and statements by politicians (which are often negative). I was truly surprised to see that the Ruperts are not at all what most modern politicians in South Africa have painted them to be; they, and especially Anton, are ingenious, deserving of their wealth which they truly created (as far as I can tell from this reading), and did not just receive their wealth as a result of their positions, and they care about South Africa and about uplifting the people of South Africa.
May 17, 2021
Lekker story!
June 18, 2025
A biography that allowed me to get to know Anton Rupert in all his facets. He was a remarkable man and a true patriot.
December 11, 2011
Hierdie boek handel oor die lewe van iemand waarvan daar gesê is: die grootste sakeman wat SA nog ooit opgelewer het (p. 504).
Anton Rupert het beskeie grootgeword op die karoodorp Graaff-Reinet, onder mense vir wie die pyn van die verwoesting en vernedering van die Boere-oorlog nog vlak gelê het. Dit is 'n tyd waarin die Afrikaner-nasionalisme begin posvat. Wanneer hy universiteit toe gaan in Pretoria, is dit die Depressie-jare en het hy nie genoeg geld om medies te gaan studeer nie. In plaas daarvan voltooi hy 'n M.Sc in chemie. Hy is op universiteit polities heel bedrywig, maar hy besluit om sy rug op die politiek te keer en eerder 'n sakeman te word. Die redes vir sy besluit word breedvoerig in die boek bespreek. Hy belê £10 in 'n bankrot tabakfabriek omdat hy glo sigarette is 'n produk wat ook in depressie-tye sal verkoop. Dit was 'n kans wat hy gevat het want die tabakbedryf in Suid-Afrika was alreeds gevestig en nuwelinge is nie geduld nie. Die Tweede Wêreldoorlog was aan die gang en tye was moeilik. Hoe Rupert 'n bedryf opbou, totdat hy naas Oppenheimer die tweede rykste man in Suid-Afrika is, is 'n boeiende en inspirerende verhaal.
Die boek beskryf ook baie ander belangstellings en projekte waarby Anton Rupert betrokke was. Hy skyn 'n man met integriteit te gewees het, wat ook omgegee het vir die samelewing rondom hom. Sy bydrae was dikwels om met nuwe praktiese idees vorendag te kom soos bv. met die stigting van die vredesparke en die klein-sake korporasie. Hy het nie net geldelike bydraes gemaak nie, maar ook sy eie tyd en energie ingestort in dinge waarvoor hy omgegee het. Ek was eintlik verbaas om te lees waar hy oral by betrokke was.
Die eerste gedeelte van die boek wat handel oor Anton Rupert se jong lewe en die opbou van sy sakebedryf, was boeiend om te lees. Hierdie omvattende biografie, volgepak met feite en verwysings, kos egter 'n bietjie vasbyt om klaar te lees. Dit is nogtans die moeite werd. Die boek is kort voor Anton Rupert se dood gepubliseer en die skrywer kon dus nog eerstehands stof versamel uit persoonlike gesprekke met Anton Rupert en sy vrou.
Die man is so indrukwekkend en inspirerend dat ek graag meer as 5 sterre aan die boek sou wou toeken. Ongelukkig, lees dit nie deurgaans so vlot nie en die taalversorging is plek-plek 'n bietjie slordig. Dit vind ek besonder jammer, siende dat Anton Rupert homself so baie vir sy taal en die gebruik daarvan omgegee het. Daarteenoor het ek gehou daarvan dat soveel mense wat oor Anton Rupert te vertelle gehad het, woordeliks aangehaal is.
Desondanks die taal, sou ek tog die boek aanbeveel. Veral vir Suid-Afrikaners. Dis inspirerend en geweldig interressant. Hierdie man is een van die reuse op wie se skouers talle mense vandag staan.
Anton Rupert het beskeie grootgeword op die karoodorp Graaff-Reinet, onder mense vir wie die pyn van die verwoesting en vernedering van die Boere-oorlog nog vlak gelê het. Dit is 'n tyd waarin die Afrikaner-nasionalisme begin posvat. Wanneer hy universiteit toe gaan in Pretoria, is dit die Depressie-jare en het hy nie genoeg geld om medies te gaan studeer nie. In plaas daarvan voltooi hy 'n M.Sc in chemie. Hy is op universiteit polities heel bedrywig, maar hy besluit om sy rug op die politiek te keer en eerder 'n sakeman te word. Die redes vir sy besluit word breedvoerig in die boek bespreek. Hy belê £10 in 'n bankrot tabakfabriek omdat hy glo sigarette is 'n produk wat ook in depressie-tye sal verkoop. Dit was 'n kans wat hy gevat het want die tabakbedryf in Suid-Afrika was alreeds gevestig en nuwelinge is nie geduld nie. Die Tweede Wêreldoorlog was aan die gang en tye was moeilik. Hoe Rupert 'n bedryf opbou, totdat hy naas Oppenheimer die tweede rykste man in Suid-Afrika is, is 'n boeiende en inspirerende verhaal.
Die boek beskryf ook baie ander belangstellings en projekte waarby Anton Rupert betrokke was. Hy skyn 'n man met integriteit te gewees het, wat ook omgegee het vir die samelewing rondom hom. Sy bydrae was dikwels om met nuwe praktiese idees vorendag te kom soos bv. met die stigting van die vredesparke en die klein-sake korporasie. Hy het nie net geldelike bydraes gemaak nie, maar ook sy eie tyd en energie ingestort in dinge waarvoor hy omgegee het. Ek was eintlik verbaas om te lees waar hy oral by betrokke was.
Die eerste gedeelte van die boek wat handel oor Anton Rupert se jong lewe en die opbou van sy sakebedryf, was boeiend om te lees. Hierdie omvattende biografie, volgepak met feite en verwysings, kos egter 'n bietjie vasbyt om klaar te lees. Dit is nogtans die moeite werd. Die boek is kort voor Anton Rupert se dood gepubliseer en die skrywer kon dus nog eerstehands stof versamel uit persoonlike gesprekke met Anton Rupert en sy vrou.
Die man is so indrukwekkend en inspirerend dat ek graag meer as 5 sterre aan die boek sou wou toeken. Ongelukkig, lees dit nie deurgaans so vlot nie en die taalversorging is plek-plek 'n bietjie slordig. Dit vind ek besonder jammer, siende dat Anton Rupert homself so baie vir sy taal en die gebruik daarvan omgegee het. Daarteenoor het ek gehou daarvan dat soveel mense wat oor Anton Rupert te vertelle gehad het, woordeliks aangehaal is.
Desondanks die taal, sou ek tog die boek aanbeveel. Veral vir Suid-Afrikaners. Dis inspirerend en geweldig interressant. Hierdie man is een van die reuse op wie se skouers talle mense vandag staan.
July 28, 2008
a brilliant businessman and philanthropist who made his billions on the back of a tobacco empire. you can't really go wrong i suppose when selling a legal chemically addictive substance and are the 1st in a country to do so
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews