Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Collection Shows the Power of Reinvention in American Business
By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026
MIDDLEBURG, Va. — Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and founder of Salamander Collection, has built one of the most remarkable second acts in American entrepreneurship by moving from media into luxury hospitality.
Johnson first became widely known as a co-founder of BET, the groundbreaking television network that helped reshape Black media in the United States. After BET’s sale, she turned her attention to hotels, resorts, entertainment, sports ownership and philanthropy. Today, Forbes lists Johnson as a billionaire and identifies her as CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts.
In 2005, Johnson launched what became Salamander Collection, a luxury hospitality company with properties in the United States and the Caribbean. The company describes Johnson as an entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist and sports-and-entertainment leader who chose hospitality as her next major business chapter.
Her flagship resort, Salamander Middleburg in Virginia, has become a symbol of that vision. The Salamander brand emphasizes high-end experiences, local culture and service, while also reflecting Johnson’s personal commitment to inclusion and opportunity in an industry where Black women have historically been underrepresented at the ownership level.
Johnson’s career is also significant because of her role in professional sports. Aspen Ideas describes her as founder and CEO of Salamander Collection and notes that she is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams.
Her impact has extended beyond traditional business success. PBS NewsHour has described Johnson as an entrepreneur, hotel leader and co-owner of multiple professional sports teams, highlighting the breadth of a career that has crossed media, hospitality and sports.
Johnson has also used hospitality as a platform for cultural recognition. Food & Wine reported that Salamander Middleburg hosts The Family Reunion, an event created to celebrate African American and African diaspora chefs and expand visibility for diverse voices in food and wine.
What makes Johnson’s story powerful is not just that she succeeded once, but that she rebuilt and expanded her influence across industries. She moved from media to luxury resorts, from entrepreneurship to sports ownership, and from personal success to broader community impact.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Johnson’s journey offers a clear lesson: success does not have to be limited to one field. With vision, discipline and the courage to start again, one achievement can become the foundation for an even greater chapter.
