Nicky Oppenheimer

The De Beers exit

Oppenheimer was the third generation of his family to lead De Beers. Forbes says the family controlled a central position in the diamond trade for 85 years and sold its 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American for $5.1 billion in cash in 2012. ^[1]

De Beers confirmed that Anglo American completed the purchase of the Oppenheimer family's 40% holding in August 2012, increasing Anglo American's ownership of De Beers to 85%. The transaction effectively ended the family's direct ownership of the diamond company that had defined much of its wealth. ^[2]

Business after diamonds

Forbes says Oppenheimer launched Fireblade Aviation in Johannesburg in 2014. Fireblade describes itself as a private aviation business based at OR Tambo International Airport, providing fixed-base operations, aircraft maintenance and charter-related services. ^[1][3]