Editor’s Note
This article reports on the Oppenheimer family’s historic exit from De Beers management, marking the end of an era for the global diamond industry. The $5.1 billion sale of their stake to Anglo American consolidates control of the world’s largest rough diamond supplier.
The Oppenheimer family of South Africa is exiting the management of De Beers. De Beers is the world’s largest supplier of rough diamonds and has dominated the market for nearly a century.
![[포토] '갤럭시 트라이폴드' 오픈런…5분 만에 첫 물량 완판](https://img.hankyung.com/photo/202512/AA.42664737.3.jpg)
Reuters reported on the 6th that Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of De Beers, has decided to transfer the family’s 40% stake for $5.1 billion to the South African mining company Anglo American. Anglo American, which previously held a 45% stake in De Beers, will see its shareholding increase to 85%. The remaining 15% stake is owned by the government of Botswana. The Oppenheimer family has managed De Beers since 1926, earning the nickname ‘Diamond Dynasty’. At one point, 90% of the world’s rough diamonds were supplied through De Beers. However, since the 2000s, new entrants like Russia’s Alrosa have entered the market, breaking the monopoly structure and reducing De Beers’ market share to around 36%.
Anglo American, which is now acquiring the De Beers stake, is also a company founded by the Oppenheimer family. Ernest Oppenheimer established Anglo American in 1917 and acquired De Beers nine years later. Unlike De Beers, Anglo American is a publicly listed company, and the Oppenheimer family holds a 2% stake in it.