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- Adebayo Ogunlesi has become the latest Nigerian to be ranked on Forbes billionaire list
- Ogunlesi achieved the feat after his company, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), inked a $12 billion deal with BlackRock Inc
- He is now Nigeria’s fifth billionaire, behind Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Femi Otedola
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
Adebayo Ogulesi has solidified his position as one of the world’s wealthiest people, with a net worth of $1.7 billion on the Forbes billionaire list.
The achievement secures Ogulesi’s spot as Nigeria’s fifth billionaire and boosts Africa’s growing list of high-net-worth persons.
Source: Getty Images
Ogunlesi gets new position in global ranking
Forbes’ newest valuation confirms a shift eight months after Bloomberg reported his rise among African billionaires.
According to reports, Bloomberg estimated Ogunlesi’s net worth at $2.3 billion following a $12 billion deal with BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset management company.
The 70-year-old Nigerian is the Chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a New York-based infrastructure investment company.
His current ranking places him among the world’s top 2,000 wealthiest persons, at 1,945 globally.
Ogunlesi’s firm deal places among the wealthiest
The rise in his wealth is closely tied to GIP’s billion-dollar deal with BlackRock, which was finalised in January this year.
The alliance, valued at $12,5 billion, will establish a leading multi-asset class infrastructure investment company.
The deal included a $3 billion cash component and the issuance of about 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock, collectively valued at $9.5 billion.
It brings together a combined client of assets under Management (AUM) surpassing $150 billion across equity, debt, and solution-oriented investments.
Ogunlesi’s career
Ogunlesi’s extensive career includes a tenure as Lead Director at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and board positions at many high-profile firms such as Callaway Golf Company, Kosmos Energy Holdings, Terminal Investment Limited, and Freeport LNG.
He spent two decades at Credit Suisse before founding GIP, growing the firm’s portfolio beyond traditional finance into sectors such as transportation, natural resources, and power generation.
The company has evolved into the world’s largest independent infrastructure manager, overseeing over $100 billion in assets. Infrastructure equity funds account for the firm’s $60 billion portfolio.
Ogunsli and GIP’s founders will continue piloting the new platform, leveraging their investment and expertise in operational enhancements.
Nigeria ties with Egypt on number of billionaires
His influence is expected to go further, with an anticipated appointment to BlackRock’s Board of Directors at the next meeting.
His inclusion in Forbes’ billionaire list highlights his success and enhances Nigeria’s representation among the world’s wealthiest.
With Ogunlesi’s addition, Nigeria is now tied with Egypt, with five billionaires, with South Africa remaining the African country with the most millionaires on the continent.
Dangote loses Africa's richest spot to South African mogul
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has lost his title as the wealthiest man for the second time in a month.
South Africa’s Johann Rupert has claimed the top spot from the Nigerian industrialist after Dangote’s wealth declined due to a drop in the shares of his company, Dangote Cement.
The Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) data shows that the cement firm led the pack of top laggards after its share price dipped by about N59.10, a 10% drop from N591.10.
Source: Legit.ng
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