Sheila Johnson

Sheila Crump Johnson became the first Black female billionaire in America when BET — the cable network she co-founded with her then-husband Robert Johnson — was sold to Viacom in 2001 for $3 billion. But her story didn't end with BET. She went on to build Salamander Hotels & Resorts, a luxury hospitality brand, and became the first Black woman to have an ownership stake in three professional sports teams.

Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1949, Johnson was a classically trained violinist who earned her degree in music from the University of Illinois. She was instrumental in the founding of BET in 1980, contributing her musical expertise to programming decisions and managing the business during its crucial early years. Her role in building BET has often been underrecognized.

After the sale of BET and her divorce, Johnson created her own legacy. Salamander Resort & Spa, which opened in Middleburg, Virginia, in 2013, is a luxury destination that reflects her exacting standards and creative vision. She holds ownership stakes in the Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Capitals (NHL). She is also one of the country's leading philanthropists, with a focus on education, the arts, and women's empowerment.