Robert L Johnson Biography | Wiki
Robert L Johnson ( Full name: Robert Louis Johnson ) is an American philanthropist, executive, media magnate, entrepreneur, and investor. He is the co-founder of the American basic cable channel called Black Entertainment Television (BET) which was acquired by Viacom in 2001. Also, Robert is the founder of a holding company called RLJ Companies.
The company invests in different business sectors. He is a former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Robert became the first African-American billionaire in 2001. In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, his companies have counted among the most prominent African-American businesses.
Robert L Johnson Age
He was born on April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi, United States of America. Robert is 76 years old.
Robert L Johnson Height
He is a man of below-average stature. Robert stands at a height of 5 ft 5 in ( Approx 1.65 m).
Robert L Johnson Family
He was born to his parents in Hickory, Mississippi. He is the ninth out of ten children of Edna and Archie Johnson. Roberts’ mother was a schoolteacher while his father was a farmer. Robert and his family relocated to Freeport, Illinois, when he was a child. He holds American nationality but belongs to the African-American ethnicity.
Robert L Johnson Wife
He was married to his ex-wife, Sheila Johnson. The two were hitched in 1969 but divorced in 2001. Robert and Sheila share two children. In 2010, Robert started dating Lauren Wooden. She is 33 years younger. Lauren was pursuing an international business-management doctorate in Paris as of 2016. The couple wedded in May 2016. The wedding was officiated by Greg Mathis officiated. Howver, they divorced in 2020.
Robert L Johnson Siblings
He grew up alongside his ten siblings. He is the 9th child of his parents Edna and Archie Johnson. However, the siblings’ names are not publicly known.
Robert L Johnson Education
While in high school, Robert was an honors student. He joined the University of Illinois and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social studies in 1968. Robert became a member of the Beta chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity while in college. After college, he enrolled at Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. Robert graduated in 1972 with a master’s degree in public affairs.
Robert L Johnson Bet
He found a job in Washington, D.C., immediately after graduating from Princeton, Johnson. This job that introduced Robert to the television industry. He was the public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. During his tenure, Robert learned of the power and untapped potential of television. He as well worked as the director of communications for the Washington, D.C. office of the National Urban League.
Robert was a press secretary for Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy as well. Later, he became the vice president of government relations at the National Cable as well as Television Association (NCTA). Robert launched Black Entertainment Television ( BET) in 1980. Three years later, BET became a full-fledged channel. Robert left NCTA in 1979 to concentrate on Black Entertainment Television. BET was the first cable television network aimed at African-Americans.
During its launch in 1980, the channel only aired for two hours on Friday nights. BET turned a profit for the first time in 1985. in 1991, it became the first black-controlled company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Robert and Liberty Media bought all outstanding shares of the company in 1998. This purchase gave Robert 42% of the company. In 2001, BET was acquired by Viacom for a reported $3 billion. Robert earned more than $1 billion from the sale. The earnings made him the first black American billionaire. He remained BET CEO until 2006
Robert L Johnson Accomplishments | Billionaire
He is the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) which he launched in 1979 with his wife, Sheila. Robert became the first African American billionaire following the selling of the network to Viacom in 2001. He owned 42% of the company which earned him more than one billion after the sale. Since the sale of BET, Robert has started a new business, a holding company and asset management firm called the RLJ Companies.
RLJ handles a portfolio of companies in the real estate, financial services, automotive film production, professional sports, hospitality, and gaming industries. Robert has referred to RLJ as his “second act.” Beyond the reach of RLJ, Robert has invested in several notable companies and organizations. He became the first African American principal owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, a North American major-league sports franchise.
He founded Our Stories Films with partner Harvey Weinstein in 2006. Mainly, Our Stories focuses on family-friendly movies intended for African American audiences. The company released the romantic-comedy feature Jumping the Broom in 2011. Apart from his business ventures, Robert has involved himself in politics.
During the 2008 Democratic primary election, he received criticism for his rebuke of Barack Obama in favor of Hillary Clinton. He organized a tour of African American business leaders to Liberia in 2007. Liberia Enterprise Development Fund was launched as a result of the trip. Robert has publicly called for African American support of Liberia, on the model of Jewish support for Israel.
Robert L Johnson Email Address
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301.280.7700
Robert L Johnson House
He owned 1.3 acres property in Washington but he sold three lots in 2015. After the sale, Robert remained with a six-bedroom, 6,000-square-foot mansion. Robert bought the entire property in 2010 for $4 million.
Robert L Johnson Facts
– He was born on April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi, U.S.
– He is the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET)
– Robert grew up in Freeport, Illinois, the 9th of 10 children.
– He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986 with a Bachelor of arts degree in History.
– In 1972, he earned an M.A in public affairs from Princeton University.
Robert L Johnson Quotes
– “I always worked, I was not afraid of getting my hands dirty”
– “I will always be proud of every second of programming on BET”
– “Tell us what we have to gain. Address our aspirations”
– “Why shouldn’t we, as Black voters, reject the notion that we are locked into one party”
– “Black people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests”
– “I thought I would meet to see if there’s common ground with someone most in the black community might call an enemy”
– “BET was a business opportunity waiting for someone to put it together”
– “We are never going to close this gap unless there is a conscious commitment to do so”
– “You’re sort of in a world where not many other African-Americans penetrate”
– “I make a joke about Obama doing drugs (and it’s) ‘Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man”
Robert L Johnson Net Worth
The American tycoon has an estimated net worth of $550 Million
How Old Is Robert L Johnson
Robert is 76 years old. He was born on April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi, United States of America.
Is Robert L Johnson Married
He was married to his ex-wife, Sheila Johnson but divorced in 2001. Robert married Lauren Wooden in May 2016 but they divorced in 2020.
Who Is Robert L Johnson
Robert is an American philanthropist, executive, media magnate, entrepreneur, and investor. He is the co-founder of the American basic cable channel called Black Entertainment Television (BET).