Natie Kirsh: Biography, Age, Businesses, Billionaire, Net Worth

Natie Kirsh (born on 6 January 1932) is a South African and Swazi billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is best known for becoming the richest person in South Africa in May 2026, with an estimated net worth of about US$17.6 billion. His wealth increased significantly after the US$29.1 billion sale of his U.S.-based food supply empire, Jetro Restaurant Depot, to Sysco in March 2026.

Biography: Nathan Kirsh

Real Name: Nathan Kirsh

Known As: Natie Kirsh

Place of Birth: Potchefstroom, North West Province, South Africa

Date of Birth: 6 January 1932 (Age- 94)

Occupation: Businessman, Philanthropist

Net Worth: US$17.6 billion

Spouse: Frances Herr

Nationality: South African, Swazi

Early Life and Education

Natie Kirsh was born as Nathan Kirsh on 6 January 1932 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He was born to Jewish immigrant parents; Dveire and William Kirsh, originally from Lithuania. He was one out of four of his parent’s children namely; Solly, Natie, Issie and Edith. The family lived at a house on 94 Berg Street (now 94 Peter Bokaba Street) in Potchefstroom. This was before the house was sold in 1985 to Doctors Greyling, Fourie and Botha after the passing of Mrs. Dveire Kirsh in 1984.

During his teen ages, Nathan joined Habonim Dror, the Labour Zionist youth movement. This shapped his identity and philanthropy though out his life. He completed his matric at Potchefstroom High School for Boys in 1949. According Natie, he experienced little to no antisemitism in Potchefstroom.

“It was a very comfortable and good environment to grow up in.” said Nathan in an interview with the Museum of the Jewish People.

Afterwards, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1952. ^[1]

Business Career of Natie Kirsh

Nathan Kirsh started out at 20 years old, helping his mother in Potchefstroom run the family malt factory. He launched his career in business in 1958 when he used £1,200 inheritance from his father to start a corn milling and malt business in Swaziland (now Eswatini). His businesses received exclusive rights from the colonial British authorities; to purchase all corn grown in the territory, becoming the country’s sole exporter.

He was expected to build corn storage facilities and a mill. All this required £45,000, therefore, he found investors who invested £15,000 into the idea. Him and his brother Issy formed a company holding to borrow £5,000 from Standard Bank. They also borrowed £2,500 each, plus their £1,200 each they had inherited from their father, added to the capital required. In 1959, Kirsh founded the Swaziland Milling Company. It produced £1,400 the first year and £10000 the following year.

That same year, Natie Kirsh and his brother Issy bought their father’s business original malt business, King Food, from their mother. They formed Kirsh Industries and Issy became the manager of the malt business. The brothers converted malt from a generic product into one of SA’s top black market brands; King Korn. However, they sold the malt business to Tiger Brands.

After 12 years in Swaziland, he returned to South Africa in 1970 and bought Moshal Gevisser, a wholesale food distributor. There he pioneered the cash-and-carry retail model and gradually built a major retail empire that included Checkers and Greatermans. He used his Moshal Gevisser to supply goods to Black shopkeepers, despite of apartheid legislation preventing white business owners to trade in black townships.

In the 1970s, he joined forces with businessman Lionel Katz, who owned eight Metro Cash & Carry stores. Together, they established a new company called Kimet (short for Kirsh and Metro), which was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1978. Through a carefully structured ownership model, Natie Kirsh and his brother maintained control of Metro. Kimet expanded rapidly, acquiring major retail brands such as Checkers, Dion, Union Wine, and Russells. By 1979, the company had grown into one of the JSE’s leading businesses, accounting for roughly 12% of all consumer goods sold in South Africa.

Losing to Sanlam

In 1984, he expanded his business ventures into into real estate. He partnered with insurer Sanlam and its executive, Fred du Plessis, to form the holding company Sanki in 1984, with Kirsh owning 51% and Sanlam 49%. This was Kirsh’s biggest mistake because a clause in the agreement could have been interpreted as giving Sanlam a veto over capital increases.

In 1986, Sanlam disputed the interpretation, forcing Kirsh to surrender most of his South African assets. The assets which were listed under their Sanki holding company included, Kimet (Checkers, Greatermans, Dion and Metro). Kirsh recalled selling them for what he deemed pittance. As a result, he moved permanently to Eswatini before later relocating to New York City to focus on his international business interests.

Business in the States

In 1976, Natie Kirsh had founded Jetro Cash & Carry in Brooklyn. This is one of the businesses which survived the Sanlam betrayal. Kirsh founded Jetro Cash & Carry after he had properly gave a look at the food distribution industry after visiting New York City in 1975. Then, in 1994, he acquired Restaurant Depot and expanded the business into a major wholesale network serving independent restaurants and small retailers often overlooked by larger distributors.

Besides wholesale distribution, Natie Kirsh also invested heavily in real estate. His portfolio includes prominent properties such as Tower 42.

Personal Life

Nathan Kirsh is married to Frances Herr a memeber of a well-known Potchefstroom Jewish family. Together they have three children namely; Linda Mirels, Wendy Fisher and Philip Kirsh. Today, he mainly lives in Eswatini while also maintaining residency in both the United Kingdom and the United States.