Nassef Sawiris: Biography, Career, and Business Insights

Nassef Sawiris’s Profile Summary

Company	Orascom Construction
Position	Executive Chairman at Orascom Construction.
Source of wealth	Construction and engineering (Orascom Construction), chemicals (OCI N.V.), sports investments (Aston Villa Football Club), private equity investments.
Also known as	Sports investor, philanthropist.
Age	65
Education	University of Chicago – Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Citizenship	Egyptian
Residence	Cairo, Egypt
Family	Nassef Sawiris is part of the prominent Sawiris family, which includes his father Onsi Sawiris and his brothers Naguib and Samih Sawiris. He is married with children.
Website, Social Media	https://orascom.com/

Biography

Nassef Sawiris, born in 1961, is an Egyptian billionaire businessman and the youngest of the Sawiris family, one of Egypt’s wealthiest families. He is widely recognized for his leadership across multiple sectors, including construction, chemicals, and sports. Nassef earned a degree in Economics from the University of Chicago and later joined Orascom, a family business. He has been instrumental in the growth of Orascom Construction, overseeing its transformation into one of the largest engineering and construction contractors in the Middle East and North Africa. Beyond Orascom, Nassef has expanded his influence by holding significant stakes in other major companies such as OCI N.V., a leading producer of fertilizers and chemicals, and sports assets like Aston Villa Football Club, where he is a key shareholder. His strategic leadership has earned him a reputation as a forward-thinking industrialist, particularly in construction, energy, and sports management. Sawiris is also known for his philanthropy, contributing to education and healthcare in Egypt and abroad. His career and investments reflect a blend of traditional family business values and modern global market dynamics.

As of 2025, he remains Egypt's richest man; holds an economics degree from the University of Chicago.

How did Nassef Sawiris make money?

Nassef Sawiris makes money in the following areas:

Construction and engineering (Orascom Construction), chemicals (OCI N.V.), sports investments (Aston Villa Football Club), private equity investments.
What is Nassef Sawiris net worth?

As of 2026, Nassef Sawiris’s net worth is estimated to be $8.73B.

What is Nassef Sawiris also known as?

Nassef Sawiris is also known for his significant investments in sports, particularly as a key shareholder of Aston Villa Football Club, a prominent football team in the English Premier League. His involvement in sports has elevated his profile beyond business and construction. Additionally, he is recognized for his philanthropic efforts, contributing to causes related to education, healthcare, and social development both in Egypt and internationally. Through the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, he has supported various projects aimed at improving living standards and promoting sustainable development in Egypt.

Prominent achievements

Nassef Sawiris has been recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Egypt and Africa, with a net worth that has consistently ranked him among the top billionaires globally. He successfully transformed Orascom Construction into a leading global player and spearheaded OCI N.V.'s development into a major fertilizer and chemicals producer. His investment in Aston Villa Football Club has also been hailed as a significant achievement, bringing the club back to the Premier League.

What are Nassef Sawiris’s key insights?

Nassef Sawiris emphasizes strategic diversification, long-term thinking, and the importance of family legacy in business. He believes in taking calculated risks while expanding into new markets, as demonstrated by his ventures into chemicals and sports. Sawiris advocates for creating value through sustainable practices and is committed to social responsibility, particularly in education and healthcare.

Personal life

Nassef Sawiris is the youngest son of Onsi Sawiris, the founder of the Orascom conglomerate, and brother to Naguib Sawiris, a well-known telecom tycoon, and Samih Sawiris, a real estate and hospitality investor. Nassef is married to Sherine Magar, and they have children. The Sawiris family is known for their collective contributions to the Egyptian business landscape and their philanthropic initiatives.

Useful insights

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