20 Facts About Nathan Kirsh

Nathan "Natie" Kirsh was born on 6 January 1932 and is a Swazi and South African billionaire businessman and philanthropist.

Nathan Kirsh was listed on the UK's Sunday Times Rich List 2018, and the wealthiest person in Eswatini by Forbes.

Nathan "Natie" Kirsh was born on 6 January 1932 to Jewish parents who immigrated to South Africa from Lithuania, and he grew up in Potchefstroom.

Nathan Kirsh later matriculated from Potchefstroom Boys High, in 1949.

Nathan Kirsh holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Swaziland.

In 1952, Kirsh began assisting his mother with the operation of his father's original malt factory in Potchefstroom, then, in 1958, launched his own first venture, founding a corn milling and malt business in Eswatini.

At the time, the South African apartheid government prevented white business-owners from operating in black townships, and Nathan Kirsh began using Moshal Gevisser to supply goods to black shopkeepers.

Nathan Kirsh acquired Restaurant Depot in 1994, then opened its first New York retail outlet in 1995, and Jetro and Restaurant Depot began operating as sister businesses under Jetro Holdings.

That year, the Independent reported that several of Nathan Kirsh's companies were registered in the British Virgin Islands and in Liberia, both of which are listed on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's tax haven "grey list".

In 2009, Nathan Kirsh was a director and held a 24.2 percent stake in Magal Security, which met controversy by providing fences in Israel.

In 2014, Nathan Kirsh sold his 40 percent stake in Magal to FIMI.

Nathan Kirsh left South Africa in 1986, after selling much of Nathan Kirsh Industries to Sanlam, In 2006, his companies included Mira Mag and Ki Corporation.

Nathan Kirsh is married to Frances Herr, and they have three children.

Nathan Kirsh keeps kosher but does not consider himself religious.

Nathan Kirsh established the Kirsh Foundation, an international charitable organization.

Nathan Kirsh has contributed significantly to Eswatini, primarily through the financing of small business startups and computer education in high schools.

In 2021, Nathan Kirsh funded a mission for humanitarian NGO IsraAID to aid with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Swaziland.

The Nathan Kirsh family donated $10 million to the Jerusalem Arts Campus, a new downtown campus for the Nisan Nativ Acting Studio, the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, and the School of Visual Theater and the Center for Middle Eastern Music.

Nathan Kirsh's foundation has funded the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership, an initiative of the British Council and the British Embassy in Israel, together with the Pears Foundation, investing in world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in Britain and Israel.

Nathan Kirsh's foundation spearheaded Shine A Light, an initiative to raise awareness about modern antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement and advocacy in the United States.