| Zak Calisto Biography | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zak Calisto |
| Age (as of 2025) | 52 years |
| Date of Birth | 1973 (exact date undisclosed) |
| Place of Birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Portuguese-South African |
| Religion | Christian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Business Executive, CEO of Karooooo Limited |
| Known For | Founder & CEO of Cartrack and Karooooo Limited |
| Company Valuation (2025) | $1.74 billion |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated $1.1 billion USD |
| Parents | Names undisclosed |
| Siblings | Information not publicly available |
| Wife | Married (wife’s identity undisclosed) |
| Children | Has children (names kept private) |
| Residence | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Education | Business & Technology background (self-taught entrepreneur) |
| Years Active | 2004–Present |
| Company | Karooooo Limited (Parent of Cartrack) |
| Recent Achievement | Became Africa’s newest billionaire after Karooooo’s $1.74B valuation (2025) |
| Recent News | Karooooo posted 20% revenue growth and 15% subscriber expansion in H1 2025; Zak Calisto sold $75M in shares while maintaining a 58% stake. |
| Controversies | No major controversies as of 2025; praised for strong corporate governance and innovation-driven growth. |
| Social Media | LinkedIn (professional updates only) |
Zak Calisto is a South African tech entrepreneur, investor, and the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karooooo Limited, the parent company of Cartrack - one of Africa’s largest telematics and vehicle-tracking companies. As of October 2025, Calisto became Africa’s newest dollar billionaire after his company’s valuation reached $1.74 billion.
Under his leadership, Karooooo has transformed from a small vehicle-tracking startup in South Africa into a global mobility technology powerhouse with over 2.4 million subscribers across Africa, Asia, and Europe. His success story symbolizes Africa’s emerging dominance in digital mobility and AI-driven logistics.
Early Life & Education
Zak Calisto was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the late 1960s. He holds South African nationality and is of Portuguese descent. While details of his formal education remain limited, Calisto has often attributed his entrepreneurial success to self-learning, resilience, and practical experience rather than traditional academia.
Career & Rise to Billionaire Status
Zak Calisto founded Cartrack in 2001 with a vision to digitize vehicle security and fleet management in Africa. The company quickly rose to prominence, becoming the continent’s leader in vehicle telematics and mobility data analytics.
In 2021, Cartrack’s parent company, Karooooo Limited, was listed on the NASDAQ and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), marking one of the few African tech firms to trade globally. As of August 2025, Karooooo’s half-year results showed:
- Revenue up 20% to $139 million
- Profit up 17.2% to $27.6 million
- Subscriber base up 15% to 2.4 million
These results cemented Zak Calisto billionaire status, with his 58% ownership stake valued at approximately $1 billion after selling $75 million worth of shares earlier in the year.
Business Ventures and Philosophy
Zak Calisto is renowned for his commitment to AI-driven innovation and customer-focused business models. He has expanded Karooooo’s ecosystem into logistics, mobility-as-a-service, and fleet management across multiple continents. Calisto’s business philosophy emphasizes profitability, sustainability, and customer trust over short-term growth.
Personal Life
Zak Calisto maintains a relatively private personal life. He is married and has children, although he rarely speaks publicly about his family. Known for his humility and discipline, Calisto has described himself as “deeply spiritual” and motivated by integrity, suggesting ties to Christian values.
Recent News & Developments (2025)
In October 2025, Zak Calisto officially joined Africa’s billionaire club following Karooooo’s record valuation of $1.74 billion. His company plans to leverage AI, logistics, and data analytics to drive future expansion across Africa and Asia.
Calisto also revealed plans to reinvest part of his wealth into technology education and entrepreneurship programs for young Africans, aligning with his vision of “digitally empowered Africa.”
Controversies and Public Image
Unlike many corporate leaders, Zak Calisto has maintained a clean public profile with minimal controversy. However, some investor discussions in 2024 raised questions about Karooooo’s aggressive market expansion costs. Despite these, Calisto remains respected for his strong leadership and transparency.
Zak Calisto Biography Table
| Full Name | Zak Calisto |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Late 1960s (exact date undisclosed) |
| Place of Birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Portuguese-South African |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of Karooooo Limited (Cartrack) |
Frequently Asked Questions About Zak Calisto
Who is Zak Calisto?
Zak Calisto is a South African entrepreneur and CEO of Karooooo Limited, the parent company of Cartrack, a leading vehicle-tracking and telematics business.
How much is Zak Calisto worth?
As of 2025, Zak Calisto’s net worth is estimated at around $1.1 billion USD, largely driven by his stake in Karooooo.
What does Zak Calisto’s company do?
Zak Calisto leads Karooooo Limited, which operates Cartrack, offering vehicle tracking, fleet management, and mobility technology services.
What is Karooooo’s valuation?
In 2025, Karooooo reached a valuation of $1.74 billion, making Zak Calisto a dollar billionaire.
Has Zak Calisto sold any shares recently?
Yes, in June 2025 Zak Calisto sold approximately $75 million worth of ordinary shares, reducing his direct stake from 65% to 58%.
Does Zak Calisto face any controversies?
As of 2025, Zak Calisto does not have any major public controversies. He is generally regarded as a disciplined and forward-thinking business leader.
How has Karooooo performed recently?
During the half-year ending August 2025, Karooooo’s revenue rose 20% to $139 million, and subscriber numbers increased 15% to 2.4 million.
What are Zak Calisto’s future plans?
Zak Calisto plans to continue expanding Karooooo across Africa and other emerging markets, leveraging AI and mobility platforms to drive growth.
About the Author
Praise Graciebby is a content creator on The StarProfile, where she writes celebrity biographies, sports updates, gossip, and trending news. With a passion for entertainment and lifestyle journalism, Praise provides readers with simple, accurate, and up-to-date profiles of public figures worldwide.
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