Sheila Johnson: America's first Black female billionaire - Biography

Ebony, Sept, 2003 by Lynn Norment

She purchased and began to renovate Salamander Farms, building an ultra modern barn in which she has hosted culinary fund-raisers. Across a courtyard are Johnson's offices. Also on the property are indoor and outdoor equestrian rings, an automated horse-walker, and a beautiful Grand Prix field where Paige trains for hunter/ jumper discipline events. Brett prefers to work out on the indoor tennis court. And there are picturesque ponds, fruit trees and a vegetable garden, where Johnson proudly points out her strawberries.

While her house is being renovated, Johnson has settled into a guesthouse. There are 13 buildings on the property, including employee housing and maintenance buildings. She also has built playhouses for children of her employees.

In town, she owns a house and two buildings. One will house her Market Salamander, the other her development office.

It is clear that Johnson loves the area and the life she has made for herself here. "This place is a gem," she says of Loudoun County. "It's beautiful. Centrally located. Dulles Airport is 30 minutes away. There are horse races, steeple-chase races, fox hunting, show jumpers. That's what this whole area is about. [Sen.] John Warner has been hunting on this property. Jacqueline Onassis used to come here all the time. My dear friend Willard Scott has cows on his farm. Jacqueline Mars (Mars candy bars) lives out here. She's the sweetest lady. Robert Duvall has a beautiful horse farm not far away. He's had tango parties in his barn.

"There are a lot of wealthy people in this area," she says. "A lot of wealth, but also a lot of poverty."

And that concerns her. True to her nature, Johnson has a reputation in the community for being generous and trying to help. She has supported various causes, including the Windy Hill Foundation and the Piedmont Environmental Council.

Despite her accomplishments, Sheila Johnson is not about to rest on her laurels. "I think that eventually, though I'm still going through a lot of self-discovery, I would like to do a book about my life and what I've been through and learned," she says when asked what the future holds. "I want to enjoy my life. I keep saying that I need to learn to relax, but I'm having so much fun. When I picked up the violin today [for an impromptu solo at her reception], it just felt good."

Her eyes twinkle with a look of excited contentment.

"I just love life and doing all these things."