Adebayo Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born lawyer, investment banker, and businessman who is currently the Chairman and Managing Partner of the investment firm, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). He was born on December 20, 1953, in Ogun State, Nigeria.
| Real name | Adebayo “Bayo” O. Ogunlesi CON |
| Date of birth | 20 December 1953 |
| Country of Origin | Federal Republic of Nigeria |
| Source of Wealth | Banker, Entrepreneur |
| Net worth | $1.1 billion |
Adebayo Ogunlesi Early life and education
Adebayo Ogunlesi was born on December 20, 1953, in Nigeria. He grew up in a well-educated family with his father being a professor of medicine, and his mother being a civil servant. Ogunlesi attended King’s College in Lagos, Nigeria, for his secondary education. In 1973, Ogunlesi moved to the United States to attend the prestigious Oxford University in England, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) in 1976.
He went on to attend Harvard Law School, where he obtained a J.D. in 1979. After completing his education, Ogunlesi worked as an attorney at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City. He later became a partner at the firm and specialized in corporate finance and securities law.
Adebayo Ogunlesi Career
Ogunlesi began his career as an attorney at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. He later transitioned to investment banking, where he worked at First Boston (now Credit Suisse) and Goldman Sachs. In 2006, he founded Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm that invests in infrastructure assets, such as airports, seaports, and energy projects. The firm has since grown to become one of the largest infrastructure investment firms in the world, with over $70 billion in assets under management.
Ogunlesi has served on various boards and committees, including as a member of the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs and as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations under President Barack Obama. He has also been recognized for his business and philanthropic contributions, including being named one of the “100 Most Influential Africans” by New African magazine in 2012 and receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2017.
Adebayo Ogunlesi in Donald Trump’s economic team
Adebayo Ogunlesi was a member of former US President Donald Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum, which was a group of business leaders who advised the President on economic issues. The forum was established in December 2016 and was disbanded in August 2017 following the controversy surrounding Trump’s response to a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Ogunlesi was invited to join the forum due to his extensive experience in finance and investment. He is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global infrastructure investment firm. Under Ogunlesi’s leadership, GIP has invested in a range of infrastructure assets, including airports, seaports, and renewable energy projects. During his time on the Strategic and Policy Forum, Ogunlesi provided input on a range of economic issues, including tax reform, trade policy, and infrastructure investment
He was one of several business leaders who resigned from the forum following Trump’s controversial comments on the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.
The estimated net worth of Adebayo Ogunlesi
Adebayo Ogunlesi’s net worth was estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion according to Forbes. However, please note that his net worth may have changed since then due to various factors such as market fluctuations, changes in assets, and other financial factors.
Adebayo Ogunlesi’s private jet
In Nigeria, the name Adebayo Ogunlesi does not ring a bell like the Dangotes, Adenugas, otedolas etc.
However, the man’s achievements in the global business circle – especially in the aviation sector – have been well celebrated around the world.
Adebayo Ogunlesi is a Nigerian lawyer and investment banker. He is referred to – especially in Nigerian circles – as “the man who bought Gatwick Airport”. Some also refer to him as the Nigerian who owns three airports in the United Kingdom.
In 2009, GIP also acquired the majority share in London Gatwick Airport.
Gatwick Airport, also known as London Gatwick, is a major international airport near Crawley, Sussex, England. GIP invested £1.455 billion in the deal that made it the majority shareholder in the airport.
GIP also owns Edinburgh Airport, which they bought in 2012.
Edinburgh Airport is an airport located in the Ingliston area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the busiest airport in Scotland in 2019, handling over 14.7 million passengers. It was also the sixth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom by total passengers in 2019.
Ogunlesi has been married to British-born optometrist Dr. Amelia Quist-Ogunlesi since 1985. They have two children. In his song “Wonderful,” Burna Boy pays tribute to Adebayo, citing his hard work.
