Table of Contents
Key Points
- Nigerian billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi’s net worth increased by $600 million, reaching $2.3 billion in just one week.
- Ogunlesi's $1.8 billion investment portfolio includes stakes in BlackRock, Kosmos Energy, Topgolf, and Goldman Sachs.
- His recent OpenAI board appointment reflects his growing influence in global business and technology sectors.
A week after joining the board of directors at OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization behind ChatGPT, Nigerian billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi has seen his net worth climb to $2.3 billion, a testament to his growing influence in global business and technology.
Ogunlesi’s net worth surges by $600 million, climbs to $2.3 billion
According to Forbes, which tracks the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest individuals using estimates of shareholdings, assets, properties, and earnings, Ogunlesi’s wealth increased by $600 million in just one week. His net worth rose from $1.7 billion on Jan. 15 to $2.3 billion.
The sharp increase in his fortune is tied to his investment portfolio, valued at over $1.8 billion. This portfolio includes stakes in BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, Kosmos Energy Holdings LLC, Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp., and Goldman Sachs Group. His $600 million cash holdings, largely attributed to a lucrative BlackRock deal, further bolster his net worth.
Ogunlesi’s recent appointment to OpenAI’s board underscores his expanding role in the business and technology sectors. Known for his leadership and expertise in global infrastructure and corporate strategy, this new role highlights his ability to influence major developments at the intersection of technology and investment.
Ogunlesi joins world’s top 1,500
The appointment follows GIP’s $12.5-billion deal with BlackRock in January 2024, which created a leading multi-asset infrastructure investment platform. Under Ogunlesi’s leadership, GIP flourished into the world’s largest independent infrastructure manager, with over $100 billion in assets under management. The deal involved $3 billion in cash and approximately 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock, valued at $9.5 billion.
The transaction, completed in the third quarter of 2024, resulted in a robust infrastructure platform managing over $150 billion in assets across equity, debt, and other solutions. Forbes’ latest valuation places Ogunlesi among the world’s top 1,500 wealthiest individuals, climbing from 1,917th place last week to 1,464th this week.
Forbes aligns with Bloomberg’s previous estimate post-BlackRock deal
Forbes’ recent estimate of Adebayo Ogunlesi's net worth aligns with Bloomberg’s earlier valuation following the announcement of the BlackRock deal in January 2024. At the time, Bloomberg reported that Ogunlesi held a 17.5-percent stake in GIP, making him a key beneficiary of the $12.5-billion transaction, which included $3 billion in cash and 12 million shares of BlackRock.
