For years, one question has resurfaced in business circles, classrooms, barbershops, and entrepreneurial communities: “Who was the first Black billionaire in America?” Many people immediately think of Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), who became a billionaire in 2001 after the company’s sale to Viacom — and who was later listed by Forbes as the first Black American billionaire. But the full story goes deeper, and it begins long before Johnson stepped onto the Forbes list. To understand America’s first Black billionaire, you have to understand context, timing, and what it means to measure “billionaire status.” And that brings us to a name many still don’t know: Reginald F. Lewis — The First to Build and Lead a Billion-Dollar Company In 1987, Reginald F. Lewis acquired TLC Beatrice International Foods for $985 million, transforming it into the first Black-owned company to surpass $1 billion in annual sales. That milestone alone is groundbreaking. Lewis didn’t inherit wealth. He didn’t benefit from generational business networks. He didn’t have doors swung open for him by powerful families or institutions. He built — and he built big. His acquisition strategy, legal brilliance, and global business vision shattered ceilings Black entrepreneurs had been told would never break. TLC Beatrice became a multinational powerhouse with operations across the U.S. and Europe, proving that Black leadership was not only capable on the world stage — but could dominate it. Lewis passed away in 1993, but his legacy continues today through his family’s philanthropic work, including programs like All Star Code, opening pathways for young men of color in technology. Yet Lewis never appeared on the Forbes billionaire list. Why? Because billionaire status isn’t just about size — it’s about timing, valuation, liquidity, and public reporting. Which leads to the next chapter. Robert L. Johnson — The First Black American to Appear on the Forbes Billionaire List