| Net Worth: | $600 Million |
| Salary: | N/A |
| Birthdate: | August 23, 1935 |
| Birthplace: | Durban, South Africa |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | N/A |
| Profession: | Businessman, Accountant |
| Nationality: | South African |
Solomon “Sol” Kerzner had a net worth of $600 million at the time of his death in 2020. As a South African businessman and accountant, he amassed his wealth through his various entrepreneurial ventures in the hospitality and tourism industries. Kerzner was the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Kerzner International Holdings Limited, which included renowned hotel groups such as Sun International and the Southern Sun Hotel Group.
– Sol Kerzner had a net worth of $600 million.
– He was a prominent figure in the South African hospitality and tourism industries.
– Kerzner founded Kerzner International Holdings Limited, Sun International, and the Southern Sun Hotel Group.
– His career contributed significantly to the development of tourism in South Africa, Mauritius, the Maldives, Dubai, and the Bahamas.
– In 2010, he was honored with the Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) for his outstanding contributions to business and the community in the Bahamas.
– Kerzner passed away in March 2020 at the age of 84.
Sol Kerzner was born on August 23, 1935, in Durban, South Africa. He grew up in a family of Russian Jewish immigrants who owned a kosher hotel chain. Kerzner attended the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where he earned a BCom (Hons) in Accounting. He later became a Chartered Accountant and actively took part in managing his family’s hotel business.
Kerzner embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with the purchase of the Astra Hotel in Durban in 1962. Encouraged by its success, he went on to build the first five-star hotel in South Africa, the Beverly Hills Hotel, which opened in Umhlanga in 1964. Subsequently, he developed the Elangeni Hotel, a 450-room property in Durban.
In 1969, Kerzner formed a partnership with South African Breweries to establish the Southern Sun Hotels chain. By 1983, the chain had expanded to include over 30 luxury hotels. One of Kerzner’s notable achievements was the opening of Le Saint Géran hotel on the island of Mauritius in 1975. However, his most significant undertaking was the development of Sun City in 1979, which featured four hotels, two golf courses, a man-made lake, and an entertainment arena that hosted renowned artists such as Queen, Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, and Frank Sinatra.
Continuing his success in the hospitality industry, Kerzner purchased the Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas in 1994 when it was facing bankruptcy. After an extensive redevelopment, the property expanded to include 2,300 rooms, along with one of the largest man-made marine habitats worldwide.
In 2002, Kerzner founded One&Only Resorts, which operated eight properties across Mexico, the Bahamas, South Africa, the Maldives, Dubai, Mauritius, and Hayman Island. Additionally, he added two more hotels, The Reef and The Cove, to the Atlantis, Paradise Island in 2007, boasting over 1,000 rooms, retail outlets, and restaurants. Kerzner also opened Atlantis The Palm in Dubai in 2008 and announced the development of an Atlantis hotel in China on Hainan Island in 2013 with an estimated cost of over $1.6 billion.
Sol Kerzner was married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Maureen Adler, with whom he had three children named Andrea, Butch, and Beverly. Tragically, Butch died in a helicopter crash in 2006. After his divorce from Maureen, Kerzner married Shirley Bestbier and had two more children, Brandon and Chantal. However, Shirley sadly died by suicide shortly after Chantal’s birth. His third wife was Anneline Kriel, a former Miss World, and they divorced in 1985 after five years of marriage. In the 1990s, Kerzner was engaged to model Christina Estrada, but they ultimately split. Lastly, he was married to Heather Murphy from 2000 to 2011.
Kerzner’s personal life also drew attention as he was listed in sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s “little black book.” He was described in a 2012 article as a “hard-drinking, much-married, chain-smoking mogul with a blue-collar background.”
Sol Kerzner passed away on March 21, 2020, at the age of 84. He succumbed to cancer while surrounded by his loved ones at the Kerzner family home in Cape Town. In accordance with his wishes, a small private funeral was held, attended only by immediate family members.
Sol Kerzner’s net worth grew steadily throughout his successful career in the hospitality industry. At the time of his death in 2020, his net worth was estimated to be $600 million. However, it is important to note that net worth calculations are based on public data and estimates.
Sol Kerzner’s net worth primarily derived from his ownership and leadership roles within the Kerzner International Holdings Limited. The success of the company, coupled with his entrepreneurial ventures, including Sun International and the Southern Sun Hotel Group, played a significant role in accumulating his wealth.
Additionally, Kerzner’s various hotel and resort developments, such as Sun City and Atlantis properties, contributed substantially to his net worth. These ventures attracted tourists and generated significant revenues, enhancing his overall financial standing.
In conclusion, Sol Kerzner was a South African businessman and accountant who achieved great success in the hospitality and tourism industries. Throughout his career, he founded and led several prominent hotel groups, including Sun International and the Southern Sun Hotel Group. Kerzner’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated to be $600 million. His entrepreneurial endeavors and contributions to the tourism industry shaped the landscapes of countries such as South Africa, Mauritius, the Maldives, Dubai, and the Bahamas. Sol Kerzner’s legacy serves as a testament to his remarkable achievements and lasting impact on the world of hospitality.
