Oppenheimer, Harry Frederick (1908–2000)

South African industrialist and philanthropist. Born into the fortune made by his father, Ernest, he took over the chairmanships of the family businesses, Anglo-American Corporation and De Beers Consolidated Mines, the world's largest gold- and diamond-mining companies, in 1957. He was reputedly one of the richest men in the world. He did not relinquish formal control of Anglo-American and De Beers until 1982 and 1984 respectively, and continued to exert a strong influence for many years thereafter.

In the 1948 elections that brought the apartheid regime to power in South Africa, Oppenheimer was elected to parliament as a member of the white liberal opposition. He left parliament for the family business on the death of his father in 1957, but maintained his links with the reformist wing of South African politics, founding and funding welfare and housing projects to help the black population.

Oppenheimer was born in the diamond-mining town of Kimberley, Cape Colony, and educated in England – Charterhouse public school and Christ Church, Oxford University. He served in the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment during World War II.