While Mark Shuttleworth may have received more media attention, and the Oppenheimers may be wealthier, Anton Rupert's 60-odd year business career and many other achievements are nothing short of remarkable. A new biography which tells his story for the first time makes for fascinating reading, not just for businesspeople, but for anyone with an interest in South Africa and its history.

Started with #10

Unlike the Oppenheimers, who not only inherited most of their wealth, but had made it from the country's rich mineral resources, Rupert started his global empire with a personal investment of just #10 (okay, it was 1941), and his family now sits on the Forbes list of 500 wealthiest worldwide, with estimated assets of $1.7-billion.

During his extraordinary career, he built up a worldwide group of companies including some of the world's best-known brands, including Cartier, Mont Blanc, Rothmans and Dunhill, under the Richemont umbrella, not to mention stakes in a dazzling array of South African companies ? significant holdings in groups such as Distell, British American Tobacco, FirstRand, Absa, TransHex, Unilever, Nampak, TotalSA, Rainbow Chicken and Medi-Clinic through Remgro and stakes in e.tv and Vodacom through soon-to-be sold VenFin, to name a few.

Humble Karoo upbringing

All this from a Karoo boy who struggled to pay for his university education, but had the drive and determination to make achieve his goals. After completing a masters degree in chemistry, Rupert's first venture was a dry cleaning business. With partners, he then bought an insolvent tobacco company, and the Rembrandt group was born.

Having grown up in the Depression, Rupert noticed that cigarettes and alcohol sales never suffered, and decided to invest in these industries, showing his strategic business brain from an early age. His other great talent was as a marketer ? he understood the importance of the brand and of advertising, and was personally involved in most packaging design, not to mention coining the famous Peter Stuyvesant line 'Your international passport to smoking pleasure'.

Major international player

His group became a major international player after taking over Rothmans of Pall Mall, and a host of other major companies. Rupert's strategic foresight also led him to steadily reduce his tobacco interests long before the anti-tobacco lobby emerged.

The details of the number of business deals and the amount of time he spent travelling become somewhat laborious, but interesting themes emerge about the way Rupert did business. His internationally-lauded partnership philosophy and strong principles guided him and led to his trustworthy reputation in the business world.

Afrikaner nationalism

Interestingly, Rupert's early business philosophy was shaped by Afrikaner nationalism and proving that Afrikaners could hold their own in the economy. He was a part of the Broederbond, but later left it.

Clashes with government

He also had a healthy mistrust of politics, and it is interesting to note his long-held opposition to the Nationalist government and apartheid. He clashed with Verwoerd and PW Botha, and believed economic upliftment was South Africa's salvation, and invested heavily in community upliftment.

Philanthropist

The role of Rupert as a benefactor and philanthropist is also well-documented. His involvement with urban and nature conservation, the arts, sport and industrial development are legendary, and perhaps his last big project, the Peace Parks Foundation, creating vast trans-frontier parks with Nelson Mandela, will be one of his most important legacies.

The biography was not authorised as such, but authors Ebbe Dommisse (a former Die Burger editor-in-chief, and indirectly, employee) and Willie Esterhuyse were able to research it with Rupert's cooperation, and is based on extensive interviews with him, his (recently deceased) wife Huberte, who was the first company secretary and remained involved in his business dealings throughout, and other family members and associates.

Negative side

However, perhaps because of this, it comes across as overly positive and glowingly complimentary. While his many achievements are undisputed, his ruthless ambition surely must have caused him to step on many toes and make enemies on his path to success.

Apart from detailing his famous spats with Louis Luyt and Sanlam's Jan Pickard, the book fails to paint any sort of negative picture. In years to come, after his death, perhaps a more objective account will emerge.

Nonetheless, this comprehensive account of this unassuming, humble and yet phenomenally successful South African is an uplifting and engaging read.

Title: Anton Rupert: A biography
Authors: Ebbe Dommisse and Willie Esterhuyse
Published by: Tafelberg
ISBN: 0624041506
Price: R250