Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi is a Nigerian lawyer and banker who was born on December 20, 1953. He currently leads Global Infrastructure Partners, a prominent investment company. Before taking on this role, he held a high-ranking position at Credit Suisse First Boston bank.
Bayo was born in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. His father, Theophilus O. Ogunlesi, was the first Nigerian medicine professor at the University of Ibadan, and Bayo’s family belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group.
His educational journey took him from King’s College in Lagos, Nigeria, to Oxford University in England, where he excelled in philosophy, politics, and economics. In 1979, he completed two degrees at Harvard University – one in law and the other in business. During his time at Harvard, he was also a part of the Harvard Law Review.
Adebayo Ogunlesi’s net worth has reached an impressive $2.3 billion. This significant wealth accumulation can be attributed to his career progression and strategic investments. We will delve into his career trajectory and explore the key factors that have contributed to his remarkable financial success.
What is Ogunlesi Net Worth?
Adebayo Ogunlesi, the person behind Global Infrastructure Partners, is set to become much wealthier, with his fortune reaching around $2.3 billion by February 2024. This significant change is due to a deal with another company called Blackrock. Blackrock has decided to purchase Global Infrastructure Partners for a whopping $12.5 billion.
According to a Bloomberg news report, once this deal is completed, Ogunlesi will officially be recognized as a billionaire. This is because he owns 17.5% of Global Infrastructure Partners, which adds up to his estimated wealth of $2.3 billion.
In a recent announcement, Blackrock confirmed their intention to acquire Ogunlesi’s company. After finalizing the deal, they plan to appoint Ogunlesi as a board member during their upcoming board meeting.
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Ogunlesi Salary
Adebayo Ogunlesi is the Lead Independent Director at Goldman Sachs and earns $600,257. However, there are 12 other top executives at Goldman Sachs who earn more money, with David Solomon being the highest earner at $24,657,700.
BlackRock-GIP Deal
In easy-to-understand terms, the acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) by BlackRock is a significant event for both companies. Aliko Ogunlesi, who was in charge of GIP, helped them invest in various areas like transportation, natural resources, and power generation. GIP has achieved considerable success, from purchasing London City Airport in 2006 to successfully raising funds.
As part of this agreement, BlackRock wants Aliko Ogunlesi to join their Board of Directors because they highly value his leadership skills. Ogunlesi and the GIP team will continue to lead the new combined company, using their expertise to make investments profitable.
This deal not only makes Aliko Ogunlesi a billionaire but also strengthens GIP’s position in the world of infrastructure. It’s a major and important development
Ogunlesi Career and Professional Life
Between 1980 and 1981, Adebayo Ogunlesi worked as a law clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall at the U.S. Supreme Court. After that, he joined a law firm in New York called Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
In 1983, he moved to the investment bank First Boston, where he focused on a project involving natural gas in Nigeria and later became the leader of their Global Energy Group. By 2002, Ogunlesi became the person in charge of investment banking worldwide at Credit Suisse First Boston.
Then, in 2006, he started his own company called Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is a type of private investment firm. GIP was supported by Credit Suisse and General Electric.
GIP bought several airports, including London City Airport and London Gatwick Airport, and this made Ogunlesi well-known in Nigeria as “The Man Who Bought Gatwick Airport.” GIP also acquired Edinburgh Airport and Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori.
In 2024, BlackRock, a big financial company, bought GIP for around $12.5 billion. Ogunlesi and some other important partners joined BlackRock as part of this deal.
Ogunlesi Awards and Honors
In 2019, Ogunlesi was honored with The International Center in New York’s Award of Excellence. He was also acknowledged as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine.
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