MICHAEL LEE-CHIN: STRATEGIC Black Billionaire POWER MOVE
Forbes 2025 Black Billionaires List Decoded
By Primal Mogul Elite | July 2025
INTRODUCTION: THE BILLIONAIRE BLUEPRINT REVEALED
Forbes’ 2025 Black Billionaires List is more than a headline. it’s a power audit of global wealth. Michael Lee-Chin, the Jamaican-Canadian financier, stands at #21, sharing the rank with U.S.-based biotech entrepreneur Herriot Tabuteau.
With a reported net worth of $1.1 billion, Lee-Chin’s rise is not a one-off windfall or a result of scattered risk. His approach is a masterclass in sector control, disciplined investing, and generational positioning.
This Primal Mogul power article delivers a high-level breakdown of how Lee-Chin constructed his fortune.
What sets his style apart, the context of the latest Forbes numbers, and most importantly. How Primal Mogul members can convert these power moves into real-world action. Every paragraph is built for clarity, strategy, and value.
MICHAEL LEE-CHIN: HOW A MOGUL BUILDS WEALTH
Michael Lee-Chin is an operator, not a speculator. His foundation: bold, calculated bets on the financial sector.
He took a 60% stake in National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCB), making it the anchor asset of his wealth.
His history with AIC Limited: a Canadian mutual fund firm he built and sold to Manulife Financial in 2009. Shows his core play: which is to build, scale, exit, and reinvest with precision.
What Sets Lee-Chin Apart
- Sector Mastery: Lee-Chin focuses. Banking became his battleground, and he stayed there, building depth instead of chasing trends.
- Value Philosophy: He mirrors Buffett’s approach: patience, value analysis, and discipline. Quality assets, not quick flips.
- Regional Impact: Lee-Chin’s investments reinforce his influence in Caribbean finance. Supporting regional economic development and serving as a blueprint for future Black and Caribbean power players.
HERRIOT TABUTEAU: THE NEW BIOTECH FORCE
Herriot Tabuteau, also at #21, is shaping the future of healthcare wealth. As the founder and major shareholder (15%) of Axsome Therapeutics. Tabuteau proves that focused expertise and strong equity in a high-barrier sector pay off.
His power move from hedge fund healthcare finance to public biotech shows the new school of billionaire building.
Tabuteau’s Playbook
- Sector Depth: Biotech and neurological disorders, a rarefied field with high stakes and high rewards.
- Ownership: Controlled growth, retained equity, and strategic execution as Axsome scaled.
THE 2025 FORBES BLACK BILLIONAIRES LANDSCAPE
This year, Forbes notes a record 23 Black billionaires controlling $96.2 billion: a tight 0.8% of global billionaire wealth, but with outsized impact and growing influence.
Aliko Dangote leads ($23.9B, oil), with David Steward ($11.4B, tech), Robert F. Smith ($10.8B, finance), and Alexander Karp ($8.4B, tech/data) rounding out the upper tier.
Key Patterns on the List
- Sector Control: The richest Black billionaires own their space: finance, oil, tech, healthcare.
- Reinvestment Strategy: Major exits fuel the next stage. Wealth recycles into new dominance, not retirement.
- From Local to Global: The blueprint begins with regional control, then goes international as the foundation strengthens.
STRATEGIC LESSONS FOR PRIMAL MOGUL MEMBERS
1. Sector Domination Over Trend Chasing
Michael Lee-Chin’s wealth is about taking command of one sector—then going deep. Primal Mogul members should claim a lane, master it, and build power that lasts. His net-worth is 1.1Billion….
2. Build, Exit, Reinvest—Repeat
AIC Limited’s sale was a transition, not a finale. Use liquidity events to fuel your next conquest. Scale up. Never “retire” from movement.
3. Power Begins at Home
Lee-Chin used his position to reinforce Jamaica’s economic landscape before scaling up. Primal Mogul members: build your base locally, then go global. Power radiates outward.
4. Long-Term Value and Patience
Ignore hype cycles. Value and discipline win over flash. Lee-Chin’s model: stay patient, trust the math, and stick to high-quality assets.
5. Wealth is Cultural Authority
Billionaire status isn’t just money. Presence on Forbes’ list is a cultural signal and a structural lever for the community. Build for representation and structural power, not just personal gain.
THE NEW PLAYBOOK: APPLYING THIS STRATEGY
- Choose one high-value sector. Study, build, and own it.
- Go deep in your field. Don’t scatter resources.
- Treat exits as reinvestment fuel, not retirements.
- Strengthen your local position before expanding globally.
Define your success in generational impact and structural change: not just numbers.
CALL TO ACTION: BUILD LIKE A PRIMAL BILLIONAIRE
Join Primal Mogul Elite and receive:
- Detailed breakdowns of billionaire-level moves in every Power Post and exclusive newsletter
- Confidential frameworks for sector analysis, capital recycling, and impact investing
- Playbooks for generational wealth, community reinvestment, and portfolio design
This is where the strategy gets real. Don’t watch from the sidelines. Get in the room and build above the noise.
