Natie Kirsh (born on 6 January 1932) is a South African and Swazi billionaire businessman and philanthropist. As of May 2026, he is regarded as the richest person in South Africa, 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 
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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
Nathan Kirsh was born on 6 January 1932 in Potchefstroom to Jewish immigrant parents from Lithuania.
He completed his matric at Potchefstroom High School for Boys in 1949. Afterwards, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of the Witwatersrand in 1952. [1]
Business Career of Natie Kirsh
In 1958, Kirsh used a £1,200 inheritance to launch a corn milling and malt business in Eswatini, then known as Swaziland. [1]
Later, he returned to South Africa in 1970 and acquired Moshal Gevisser. There, he pioneered the cash-and-carry retail model and gradually built a major retail empire that included Checkers and Greatermans. [2]
However, in 1986, a business dispute with Sanlam forced Kirsh to surrender most of his South African assets. As a result, he moved permanently to Eswatini before later relocating to New York City to focus on his international business interests.
In 1976, he founded Jetro Cash & Carry in Brooklyn. 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. [3]
Besides wholesale distribution, Natie Kirsh also invested heavily in real estate. His portfolio includes prominent properties such as Tower 42. [4]
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Through the Kirsh Foundation, Kirsh supports microfinance initiatives in Eswatini. The foundation has helped provide starter capital to more than 12,000 small businesses. [5]
Natie Kirsh is married to Frances Herr, and together they have three children.
Today, he mainly lives in Eswatini while also maintaining residency in both the United Kingdom and the United States. [6]
References |
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| 1. | South African billionaire visits old school – on March 17, 2017 | The Citizen (citizen.co.za) |
| 2. | The man from Potch who once owned Checkers, lost almost everything, and is now richer than Johann Rupert – By Malcolm Libera on 7 May 2026 | businesstech.co.za |
| 3. | Jetro Cash & Carry – overview | preqin.com |
| 4. | Restaurant Depot Sale Boosts 94-Year-Old South African’s Fortune By $10 Billion – By Gigi Zamora on 03 April 2026 | Forbes Magazine (forbes.com) |
| 5. | Nathan Kirsh – 10 March 2026 | Forbes Magazine (forbes.com) |
| 6. | Nathan Kirsh – the richest man from Potchefstroom – by on Apr 15, 2026 | lenniegouws.co.za |
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