About a month ago, Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola made a headline-grabbing announcement: he would publish a memoir chronicling his rise from entrepreneur to a net worth exceeding $1 billion.
The book, Making It Big, has steadily built momentum in the weeks since, drawing attention not just for its content but for the way it’s being marketed.
Otedola, long recognized as one of Nigeria’s most prominent oil barons during his tenure at Forte Oil, has since pivoted seamlessly into finance and power, with stakes in Geregu Power and First Bank Holdings.
At 61, he remains one of the country’s most influential business figures. Which is why it’s striking to see him take such a hands-on, strategic approach to promoting his memoir.
Rather than relying solely on his name recognition, Otedola has employed a playbook that blends personality-driven storytelling with market-tested tactics.
From leveraging personal networks to crafting exclusivity, he has given a masterclass in what might be called billionaire marketing. Over the past four weeks, his campaign has offered a clear set of lessons, reminders that even at the top of the wealth pyramid, the fundamentals of influence, reach, and narrative still matter.
Without further ado, here are 7 lessons Femi Otedola has taught us about billionaire marketing in 2025.
One lasting principle of marketing is that people buy trust before they buy products. Femi Otedola demonstrated this masterfully with Making It Big. Before the book’s release, he began offering glimpses into the wealth of insights it contained. By releasing excerpts, he gave his audience a taste of the wisdom inside, making them feel like they were being let in on the secrets of a world few ever see.
In these early previews, Otedola shared stories that were both revealing and instructive. He recounted a 1 a.m. call with Wale Tinubu that led to a diesel cargo being diverted, the challenges and sometimes hostile reactions he faced when loans were denied, and the less-publicized intricacies of the oil and gas sector.
By offering this value upfront, Otedola built trust and curiosity simultaneously. It’s a reminder to entrepreneurs at any stage: when you give your audience meaningful, tangible value first, the sale becomes almost a natural next step.
