Seventeen years old Cecil Rhodes joins his brother in the rush for diamonds in southern Africa, where he outwits his fellow prospectors, reorganizes the workforce and forms a breath-taking vision to extend the British Empire from the Cape to Cairo.

Rhodes invites a young clerk to oversee his business interests while he takes his seat in the Cape parliament.

Rhodes outwits his greatest rival, Barney Barnato, with a brilliant scheme.

Has Rhodes's scheme to outwit Lobengula backfired?

Determined to expand north in search of gold, Rhodes orders his pioneer column, a private army, to enter Mashonaland.

Provoked beyond endurance by Dr. Jameson, Lobengula finally wages war on Rhodes's private army.

Rhodes conspires against Kruger and the Boers. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing in Rhodesia and Princess Radziwill continues to gather proof of Rhodes's past crimes.

Rhodes has to battle against his two greatest enemies - his health, which is failing fast, and Princess Radziwill, who is determined to hound him to the last.