# Douw Steyn > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Douw_Steyn > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Douw_Steyn.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douw_Steyn > Source revision: 1354816538 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) South African billionaire businessman (1952–2025) Douw Steyn Born Douw Gerbrand Steyn (1952-12-19)19 December 1952 Died 4 February 2025(2025-02-04) (aged 72) Alma mater Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education Occupation Businessman Known for Founder of BGL Group Spouse Carolyn Steyn (m.2013) Partner Donne Botha (2005-2009) **Douw Gerbrand Steyn** (19 December 1952 – 4 February 2025) was a South African [billionaire](/source/Billionaire) businessman, the founder of [BGL Group](/source/BGL_Group), a UK-based insurance and financial services company, and the parent of [Compare the Market](/source/Compare_the_Market). Steyn had links to South African politics, having housed former South African president [Nelson Mandela](/source/Nelson_Mandela) at the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa. According to The *[Sunday Times Rich List](/source/Sunday_Times_Rich_List)* in 2021, Steyn had an estimated net worth of £2.05 billion, an increase of £1.1 billion from 2020.[1] ## Early life Douw Gerbrand Steyn was born in December 1952. He went to school in [Linden](/source/Linden%2C_Gauteng), Johannesburg.[2] He received a bachelor's degree in 1978 from [Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education](/source/Potchefstroom_University_for_Christian_Higher_Education).[3][2] ## Career Steyn began his career as a [quantity surveyor](/source/Quantity_surveyor) at Eskom Mega Watt Park.[3] Steyn founded [BGL Group](/source/BGL_Group) (which was founded as Budget Insurance Company in 1992), a UK-based insurance and financial services company, and the parent of [Compare the Market](/source/Compare_the_Market).[4] In 2015, Steyn launched the development of a luxury private estate, Steyn City, on a 900-hectare (2,200-acre) site between [Fourways](/source/Fourways) and [Lanseria](/source/Lanseria_International_Airport) in [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg). The project initially drew R6.5 billion in investment, with a further R5.5 billion invested in 2019.[5] In April 2020, Steyn pledged R320 million to assist the coronavirus relief efforts in South Africa through the Douw Steyn Family Trust and the companies he founded.[6][7] ## Personal life and death Steyn was in a relationship with Donne Botha from 2005 to 2009; and on the basis of an extravagant ceremony in London in 2007, Botha claimed in 2014 that they were married, and began a legal bid for half of his estate.[8] In August 2021, the [Durban High Court](/source/Durban_High_Court) ruled that they were never married, and that a punitive cost order against Botha was warranted.[8] In February 2013, he married [Carolyn Steyn](/source/Carolyn_Steyn) at the Saxon Boutique Hotel, where guests included [Graça Machel](/source/Gra%C3%A7a_Machel), [Timothy Moloi](/source/Timothy_Moloi), and [Michael de Pinna](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_de_Pinna&action=edit&redlink=1).[2] Steyn died on 4 February 2025, at the age of 72.[9] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Sunday Times Rich List 2021"](https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list). *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. Retrieved 10 September 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-biznews1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-biznews1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-biznews1_2-2) ["R250m Palazzo Steyn reflects "my confidence in SA's future""](http://www.biznews.com/undictated/2014/12/01/douws-r250m-palazzo-steyn-reflects-my-confidence-in-sas-future/). Biznews.com. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2017. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bloomberg1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bloomberg1_3-1) Douw Steyn SA, B.Sc (QS). ["Douw Steyn SA, B.Sc (QS): Executive Profile & Biography"](https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=46493632&privcapId=9002888&previousCapId=9002888&previousTitle=BGL%20Group%20Limited). Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 May 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Nocookies"](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/douw-steyn-a-meerkat-beyond-compare/news-story/c3b251d3084cd0c25ada7216bb880bf6?nk=865e1a8cabe55543ac3b8fd44c232842-1494503139). The Australian. Retrieved 11 May 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Staff Writer. ["A look at Steyn City's massive new R5.5 billion plan – which includes a beach"](https://businesstech.co.za/news/property/350183/a-look-at-steyn-citys-massive-new-r5-5-billion-plan-which-includes-a-beach/). Retrieved 20 July 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Steyn, Douw G. (2015). *Introduction to Atmospheric Modelling*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/cbo9781316182482](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fcbo9781316182482). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-316-18248-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-316-18248-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Entrepreneur Douw Steyn donates R320 million to SA pandemic fightback"](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/douw-steyn-solidarity-fund-donation-covid-19-2020/). *The South African*. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-News24_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-News24_8-1) Bhengu, Lwandile (5 August 2021). ["'There was never a marriage' - judge rules in billionaire Douw Steyn's favour after legal bid by ex"](https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/there-was-never-a-marriage-judge-rules-in-billionaire-douw-steyns-favour-after-legal-bid-by-ex-20210805). *News24*. Retrieved 5 August 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Brederode, Compiled by Ahmed Areff and William. ["Billionaire insurance magnate Douw Steyn has died"](https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/billionaire-insurance-magnate-douw-steyn-has-died-20250204). *Business*. Retrieved 4 February 2025. ## External links - [Douw Steyn](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3597315/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) This South African business-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:SouthAfrica-business-bio-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3ASouthAfrica-business-bio-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:SouthAfrica-business-bio-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Douw Steyn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douw_Steyn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douw_Steyn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.