America's first Black female billionaire

Sheila Crump Johnson, the nation's first Black female billionaire, strikes a pose near the front gate of her 200-acre Salamander Farm in Middleburg, Va. During a reception at Parsons School of Design (top, right), Johnson chats with Bob Kerrey, president of New School University; Randy Swearer, dean of Parsons School of Design; and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. At the groundbreaking reception for her Salamander Inn & Spa in Virginia, Johnson greets good friend UNCF President and CEO William Gray III, while other guests wait in receiving line. During program, another close friend and her reception emcee, TV personality Willard Scott, applauds her efforts.
IT had rained at least part of 40 days straight, but Sheila Crump Johnson ignored suggestions to postpone her groundbreaking event. Though she awakened to another rainy morning in beautiful but soggy Virginia horse country, she was optimistic.

"We're going to make it work," she said.

By the time guests started arriving at the luxurious tent she had constructed in a muddy field just outside Middleburg, Va., city limits, the rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and Sheila Johnson was glowing. She personally greeted each of the several hundred guests who gathered to wish her well as she broke ground for the luxurious Salamander Inn & Spa.

The resort will put Middleburg on the map, but also Johnson herself as the first African-American woman to build such a luxury hotel. Just as significant is the fact that she is the first Black female certified as a billionaire, having reached that milestone even before Oprah Winfrey was certified earlier this year.

Still, many ask, "Who the heck is Sheila Johnson?"

Sheila Crump Johnson is the cofounder of BET with former husband Robert L. Johnson. The two equally split $1.5 billion in proceeds after BET was sold for $2.3 billion in stock. (They divorced last year.) She also has extensive real estate holdings, including the 200-acre Salamander Farm in Virginia and another farm and a condo in Florida. She also owns 18 show horses.