he was one of the chief financial backers of president thomas boni yayi, financing his campaigns for the 2006 and 2011 elections. his company, benin control acquired two nationally owned enterprises, sodeco in 2009 and pvi in 2011. in 2011, talon received management of cotonou’s imports at the port of cotonou. in 2012, he fled to france after he was accused of embezzling more than 18 million euros in taxes. he fell out with boni yayi and was accused of involvement in a plot to kill him. he was subsequently pardoned in 2014. in 2015, us magazine "forbes" listed him as the 15th richest person in sub-saharan africa with wealth valued at approximately us$400 million.