Rudolph completed a B.Com. degree (University of the Free State, cum laude, 1975) and LL.B. degree (Rand Afrikaans University, cum laude, 1977).After lecturing commercial law at the University of South Africa during 1978, he joined the Society of Advocates and practiced law at the Pretoria Bar, South Africa from 1979 to 1989, specializing in commercial law. He left the Bar in 1989 and entered the mineral sector where he focused on finding, acquiring and developing mineral exploration and mining projects in various African countries. He and his business partner, geologist David Twist, were the founder members of Coronation International Mining in the late 1990’s, which discovered and explored the Essakane gold deposit in Burkina Faso. Essakane became one of the most profitable gold mines in West Africa.Rudolph and David were also founder members of the Platmin Group in the early 2000’s, which assembled a portfolio of exploration targets in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa and conducted the exploration work and various studies. This project developed into a platinum mine.They were also the founder members of the Sephaku Group in 2004. Sephaku acquired the rights to a limestone deposit, which they explored and subsequently developed into a cement producing plant under the name Sephaku Cement.Rudolph and David, joined by a third partner Carlo Baravalle, co-founded AMED Funds in 2011. AMED Funds have raised a total of US$475 million which they invested in 13 mineral exploration and development projects mainly in African countries. Rudolph is intimately involved in all aspects of the business: search for and acquisitions of projects, due diligence work, liaising with management teams in the various investments, divestments, etc.