Reginald F. Lewis, who built TLC Beatrice into the first Black-owned billion-dollar company, dies in New York at 50.
At a Glance
- Date
- 19 January 1993
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Reginald F. Lewis
- Category
- Business & Economy
- Source
- Biographical records · Smithsonian NMAAHC
What It Meant Then
He was the wealthiest Black American of his time and a pioneer of leveraged buyouts.
What It Means Now
Lewis's legacy endures in business education and the museum that bears his name.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Reginald F. Lewis Dies.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/reginald-f-lewis-dies/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Reginald F. Lewis Dies. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/reginald-f-lewis-dies/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Reginald F. Lewis Dies.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/reginald-f-lewis-dies/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.