Nicky Oppenheimer & family

Early Life

Nicky Oppenheimer was born on June 8, 1945, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the son of Harry Oppenheimer and Bridget McCall, and the grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, who founded Anglo American and later chaired De Beers. He was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Rise to Success

Oppenheimer joined Anglo American in 1968 and became a director in 1974. He was appointed deputy chairman in 1983 and later became chairman of the Diamond Trading Company in 1985, and chairman of the De Beers Group in 1998. He retired from De Beers in 2012 when the family's stake was sold to Anglo American.

Key Business Strategies

A key moment in Oppenheimer's career was when he transformed De Beers' business model, particularly after losing its near-monopoly. He expanded its supply at retail and helped establish the Kimberley Process certification program to address concerns about conflict diamonds.

Philanthropy

The Oppenheimer family is committed to philanthropy, particularly in Southern Africa. Their efforts focus on education, health, conservation, and the arts. In 2005, Nicky and his son Jonathan established the Brenthurst Foundation to contribute to strategies and policies for Africa's economic performance and sustainable development. The family's initiatives include the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and significant contributions to conservation, including Tswalu Kalahari game reserve. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Oppenheimer donated more than $110 million to South African small businesses.