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Robert L. Johnson

February 15, 2024

For persons of a similar name, see Robert Johnson (disambiguation).

Robert Louis Johnson (born April 8, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He is the co-founder of BET, which was acquired by Viacom in 2001.[2][3] He also founded RLJ Companies, a holding company that invests in various business sectors.[3][7] Johnson is the former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.[8] He became the first black American billionaire in 2001.[9][1][10] Johnson's companies have counted among the most prominent black American businesses in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

Robert L. Johnson
Johnson in 2018
Born
Robert Louis Johnson

(1946-04-08) April 8, 1946 (age 77)
Hickory, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA)
Princeton University (MPA)
Known forCo-founder of BET
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 2001)​
Lauren Wooden
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2020)​
Children2
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education edit

Johnson was born in 1946 in Hickory, Mississippi, the ninth out of ten children to Edna and Archie Johnson.[3][4] His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was a farmer.[3] His parents moved the family to Freeport, Illinois, when he was a child.[3] He was an honors student in high school.[3][4] Johnson graduated from the University of Illinois in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in social studies.[3][4] While at the University of Illinois, Johnson became a member of the Beta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[4] He received a master's degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in 1972.[3][4]

Career edit

 
President George W. Bush sits with Johnson during a meeting to discuss the economy with small business owners and community bankers in 2006

After graduating from Princeton, Johnson found a job in Washington, D.C., which introduced him to the television industry. He served as the public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In this position is where he learned of the power and untapped potential of television. Around the same time he also worked as the director of communications for the Washington, D.C. office of the National Urban League.[11] Johnson worked as a press secretary for Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy.[4][12][13] He later became vice president of government relations at the National Cable and Television Association (NCTA).[4][12][13] In 1980, Johnson launched Black Entertainment Television, which became a full-fledged channel in 1983.[4][12]

Johnson left NCTA in 1979 to create Black Entertainment Television, the first cable television network aimed at black Americans.[12][14] When the network launched in 1980, it only aired for two hours on Friday night.[4][12] BET first turned a profit in 1985 and it became the first black-controlled company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991.[12][14] In 1998, Johnson and Liberty Media bought all outstanding shares of the company.[14][15] This purchase gave Johnson 42% of the company.[14][15] Viacom acquired BET in 2001 for a reported $3 billion; Johnson earned over $1 billion from the sale, making him the first black American billionaire.[3][9][12][14] He remained BET CEO until 2006.[12]

Johnson founded The RLJ Companies, a holding company with a diverse portfolio including hotel real estate investment, private equity, financial services, asset management, automobile dealerships, sports and entertainment, and Video lottery terminal gaming.[3][16] The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.[17]

By January 2009, Ion Media had another subchannel network, Urban TV, in the works with him targeted to black Americans.[18] Axiom Bank N.A. Maitland, Florida, was founded by Robert Johnson, who also founded the Black Entertainment Network (BET). As of 2013, Johnson was a member of the board of directors for RLJ Lodging Trust, RLJ Entertainment, Inc., KB Home, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Strayer Education, Think Finance, Inc., NBA Board of Governors, The Business Council, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.[16][19][20][21] Johnson has also served as a member of the board of directors for several other companies and organizations, including US Airways, Hilton Hotels, General Mills, the United Negro College Fund, and Deutsche Bank's Americas Advisory Board.[16][22][23][24]

Johnson became the first black American majority club owner of a major American sports league team with his 2002 purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats.[8][25][26] In 2010, Johnson sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan.[27]

In 2016, Johnson finalized a partnership agreement with AMC Networks through his RLJ Company after launching his own video on demand streaming service Urban Movie Channel in 2014. According to the agreement, AMC will use its programming and distribution clout to benefit Acorn and UMC. Additionally, the RLJ-AMC partnership will allow for greater investment in content from black American creatives, Johnson emphasized. The agreement called for AMC to provide RLJ with a $60 million loan on a seven-year term and $5 million on a one-year term. AMC has received warrants to purchase at least 20 million shares or the equivalent of 50.1% of the company. The time frame for exercising those warrants is open-ended, AMC said.[28]

Philanthropy edit

In 2011, Johnson worked with Morgan Freeman to raise funds for hurricane preparedness in the Bahamas.[29] Johnson released a neckwear line in coordination with PVH and The Ella Rose Collection, the RLJ Ella Rose Africa Tie Collection, in 2012 to benefit the charitable organization Malaria No More.[30]

In 2007, Johnson created the Liberia Enterprise Development Fund with a $30 million investment.[5][31][32] The fund provides credit for Liberian entrepreneurs.[5]

Political activity edit

Role in 2008 election edit

During the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Johnson was a prominent surrogate for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. During the campaign, he was a "HillRaiser", a term for a leading fundraiser for Clinton's campaign.[33] Following her defeat in the primary, Johnson wrote to members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where he urged representatives to lobby Obama to select Clinton as his running mate.[34]

January 2008 Obama remarks controversy edit

In January 2008, Johnson attracted controversy over remarks made about Barack Obama, Clinton's primary rival, which were interpreted as a criticism of Obama's admitted use of marijuana in his youth:[35][36]

As an African-American, I'm frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say what he was doing, [but] he said it in his book.

The Clinton campaign denied that Johnson was referring to Obama's past use of marijuana, stating that his comments were referring to Obama's work as a community organizer.[37] Critics accused Johnson of hypocrisy, given that BET has prominently featured artists that glorify drug use and distribution.[38] On January 17, 2008, Johnson sent Obama the following apology:[39]

I'm writing to apologize to you and your family personally for the un-called-for comments I made at a recent Clinton event. In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail.

On April 14, 2008, Johnson made comments to the effect that Obama would not be the Democratic Party's leading candidate if he were not black, in defense of a similar comment made by Geraldine Ferraro. He also went on to say "I make a joke about Obama doing drugs [and it's] 'Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man.'"[40]

Political activity since 2016 edit

 
Johnson speaking at a signing ceremony for an executive order by President Donald Trump on December 12, 2018

Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election, Johnson met with the then-president-elect for a meeting at Trump International Golf Club. Johnson stated in a CNBC interview that he had known Trump personally for years, and urged Black Americans to give Trump a chance.[41] Johnson argued that Black voters should not be wedded to either party in the American two-party system, stating that overwhelming Black support for the Democratic Party means "we are locked into one party which undoubtedly limits and dilutes our voting power".[41] In 2018, he stated that he declined an unspecified position in the Trump Administration.[42]

In 2019, Johnson praised Trump's economic policies, stating that he "[gives] the president a lot of credit for moving the economy in a positive direction that’s benefiting a large amount of Americans". He argued that tax cuts implemented under Trump helped stimulate the economy and inspire confidence among businesspeople. He stated that the Democratic Party moved too far to the left, and indicated he did not have a "particular candidate" he supported in the 2020 Democratic primary.[43]

In September 2020, during the 2020 general election, Johnson made comments that were interpreted as him indicating a preference for Trump's reelection candidacy over Joe Biden's campaign. However, CNBC noted that "Johnson, when pressed, refused to outright endorse Trump". During the interview, Johnson stated that "[w]here I come out as a businessman, I will take the devil I know over the devil I don't know anytime of the week."[44]

Personal life edit

Johnson married Sheila Johnson in 1969.[3] They divorced in 2001 and have two children. She is CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and owner of Salamander Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. [45] Johnson began dating Lauren Wooden, who is 33 years his junior, in 2010. As of 2016, Wooden was pursuing an international business-management doctorate in Paris.[46] They married in May 2016; Greg Mathis officiated,[47] and divorced in 2020.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Miller, Matthew (May 6, 2009). . Forbes Magazine. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2013. ... Robert Johnson became the first African American billionaire in 2000 after he sold the network to Viacom for $3 billion in stock and assumed swag. Since then, sagging Viacom and CBS stock, plus investments in real estate, hotels and banks ... have dragged Johnson's net worth to $550 million, we estimate.
  2. ^ a b Bryant, Adam (November 12, 2011). "No Ranting and Raving Is Permitted". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Eng, Dinah (November 9, 2012). . Fortune. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Perl, Peter (December 14, 1997). "His Way". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Johnson, Robert (May 13, 2007). "Liberia's Moment of Opportunity". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Business' Most Notoroius". USA Today. June 30, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  7. ^ Benjamin, Scott (February 11, 2009). "Second Act for Robert Johnson". CBS News. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Rhoden, William C. (June 21, 2004). "Sports of The Times; First Item for the Bobcats: Win Over the Community". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Robert L. Johnson". Biography. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Olson, Elizabeth (July 15, 2006). "He's Keeping Fingers in Many Pots". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  11. ^ "The Million Dollar BET: Robert Johnson and the inside story of the Black Entertainment Television by Brett Pulley
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Dumaine, Brian (October 1, 2002). "The Market Nobody Wanted". CNN Money. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Stodghill, Ron (February 18, 2007). "A Media Mogul Tries Remote Control". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e Nycz-Conner, Jennifer (May 29, 2012). "30 Years: Black Entertainment Television goes public (October 30, 1991)". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "COMPANY NEWS; BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION TO BE SOLD". The New York Times. March 17, 1998. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "African-American Empowerment". Leaders Magazine. January 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  17. ^ "RLJ Companies About". Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  18. ^ Romano, Allison (January 19, 2009). "Cutting Bait On Subchannels". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  19. ^ "RLJ ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Form 10-K Annual Report Filed 2013-04-10". secdatabase.com. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  20. ^ "LOWES COMPANIES INC Form 10-K Annual Report Filed 2013-04-02". secdatabase.com. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  21. ^ . Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  22. ^ Gilpin, Kenneth L. (August 15, 2001). "US Air, Denied United Merger, to Sketch New Strategy". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  23. ^ "General Mills, Inc. Form 8-K (2-11-04)". sec.gov. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  24. ^ "Hilton Hotels, Corp. Form 10-K, Filed March 30, 1999". secdatabase.com. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  25. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; BET's Founder Wins Franchise". The New York Times. December 18, 2002. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  26. ^ "BET founder Johnson awarded Charlotte franchise". ESPN.com. December 18, 2002. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  27. ^ "Sale of Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan approved by NBA Board of Governors". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 18, 2002. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  28. ^ "AMC Networks Invests in Robert Johnson's Streaming TV and Film Company". Variety. October 17, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  29. ^ Desmond-Harris, Jenee (June 21, 2011). . The Root. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  30. ^ Rowley, Dorothy (November 9, 2012). . The Washington Informer. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  31. ^ Holder, Christina (July 14, 2009). "Americans lend a hand to new Liberia". USA Today. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  32. ^ Adler, Niel (February 12, 2007). "RLJ Cos., partners create $30 million Liberia fund". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  33. ^ Suarez, Fernando (January 13, 2008). "Clinton Supporters Come Out Swinging - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  34. ^ MacAskill, Ewen (June 4, 2008). "Obama resists pressure from Clinton for vice president role". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 12, 2024. Another supporter, Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, said he wrote to the Congressional Black Caucus urging members to push Obama to choose Clinton. He said he had spoken with her on Tuesday and she was "absolutely ready" to become vice-president.
  35. ^ Drugs, Race Raised in Clinton-Obama Fight", CNN, 13 January 2008.
  36. ^ Smith, Ben (January 13, 2008). "Bob Johnson on President Obama's past". Politico. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  37. ^ "Drugs, Race Raised in Clinton-Obama Fight", CNN, 13 January 2008.
  38. ^ . AlterNet. January 24, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  39. ^ RLJ Development, LLC January 17, 2008
  40. ^ Johnson cites race in President Obama's surge April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ a b Braun, Aryn (November 22, 2016). "BET Founder Says African-Americans Should Give Trump a Shot". Roll Call. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  42. ^ Lovelace Jr, Berkeley (April 6, 2018). "BET founder: Trump's economy is bringing black workers back into the labor force". CNBC. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  43. ^ Ellyatt, Holly (July 9, 2019). "Democrats have moved 'too far to the left,' says BET network founder Bob Johnson". CNBC. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  44. ^ Stankiewicz, Kevin (September 30, 2020). "BET founder Robert Johnson says 'I will take the devil I know,' adding he doesn't know what Biden will do". CNBC. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  45. ^ "Sheila Johnson, Marrying Very Well". The Washington Post. 2005. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  46. ^ Heil, Emily; Roberts, Roxanne (January 5, 2016). "BET founder Bob Johnson engaged to Lauren Wooden". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  47. ^ Heil, Emily (May 10, 2016). "BET founder Bob Johnson weds Lauren Wooden at Napa Valley ceremony". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 14, 2016.

External links edit

February 15, 2024
robert, johnson, persons, similar, name, robert, johnson, disambiguation, robert, louis, johnson, born, april, 1946, american, entrepreneur, media, magnate, executive, philanthropist, investor, founder, which, acquired, viacom, 2001, also, founded, companies, . For persons of a similar name see Robert Johnson disambiguation Robert Louis Johnson born April 8 1946 is an American entrepreneur media magnate executive philanthropist and investor 1 2 3 4 5 6 He is the co founder of BET which was acquired by Viacom in 2001 2 3 He also founded RLJ Companies a holding company that invests in various business sectors 3 7 Johnson is the former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats 8 He became the first black American billionaire in 2001 9 1 10 Johnson s companies have counted among the most prominent black American businesses in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries Robert L JohnsonJohnson in 2018BornRobert Louis Johnson 1946 04 08 April 8 1946 age 77 Hickory Mississippi U S Alma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana Champaign BA Princeton University MPA Known forCo founder of BETSpousesSheila Johnson m 1969 div 2001 wbr Lauren Wooden m 2016 div 2020 wbr Children2WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Philanthropy 4 Political activity 4 1 Role in 2008 election 4 1 1 January 2008 Obama remarks controversy 4 2 Political activity since 2016 5 Personal life 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education editJohnson was born in 1946 in Hickory Mississippi the ninth out of ten children to Edna and Archie Johnson 3 4 His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was a farmer 3 His parents moved the family to Freeport Illinois when he was a child 3 He was an honors student in high school 3 4 Johnson graduated from the University of Illinois in 1968 with a bachelor s degree in social studies 3 4 While at the University of Illinois Johnson became a member of the Beta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity 4 He received a master s degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in 1972 3 4 Career edit nbsp President George W Bush sits with Johnson during a meeting to discuss the economy with small business owners and community bankers in 2006After graduating from Princeton Johnson found a job in Washington D C which introduced him to the television industry He served as the public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting In this position is where he learned of the power and untapped potential of television Around the same time he also worked as the director of communications for the Washington D C office of the National Urban League 11 Johnson worked as a press secretary for Congressman Walter E Fauntroy 4 12 13 He later became vice president of government relations at the National Cable and Television Association NCTA 4 12 13 In 1980 Johnson launched Black Entertainment Television which became a full fledged channel in 1983 4 12 Johnson left NCTA in 1979 to create Black Entertainment Television the first cable television network aimed at black Americans 12 14 When the network launched in 1980 it only aired for two hours on Friday night 4 12 BET first turned a profit in 1985 and it became the first black controlled company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991 12 14 In 1998 Johnson and Liberty Media bought all outstanding shares of the company 14 15 This purchase gave Johnson 42 of the company 14 15 Viacom acquired BET in 2001 for a reported 3 billion Johnson earned over 1 billion from the sale making him the first black American billionaire 3 9 12 14 He remained BET CEO until 2006 12 Johnson founded The RLJ Companies a holding company with a diverse portfolio including hotel real estate investment private equity financial services asset management automobile dealerships sports and entertainment and Video lottery terminal gaming 3 16 The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda Maryland 17 By January 2009 Ion Media had another subchannel network Urban TV in the works with him targeted to black Americans 18 Axiom Bank N A Maitland Florida was founded by Robert Johnson who also founded the Black Entertainment Network BET As of 2013 Johnson was a member of the board of directors for RLJ Lodging Trust RLJ Entertainment Inc KB Home Lowe s Companies Inc Strayer Education Think Finance Inc NBA Board of Governors The Business Council and the Smithsonian Institution s National Museum of African American History and Culture 16 19 20 21 Johnson has also served as a member of the board of directors for several other companies and organizations including US Airways Hilton Hotels General Mills the United Negro College Fund and Deutsche Bank s Americas Advisory Board 16 22 23 24 Johnson became the first black American majority club owner of a major American sports league team with his 2002 purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats 8 25 26 In 2010 Johnson sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan 27 In 2016 Johnson finalized a partnership agreement with AMC Networks through his RLJ Company after launching his own video on demand streaming service Urban Movie Channel in 2014 According to the agreement AMC will use its programming and distribution clout to benefit Acorn and UMC Additionally the RLJ AMC partnership will allow for greater investment in content from black American creatives Johnson emphasized The agreement called for AMC to provide RLJ with a 60 million loan on a seven year term and 5 million on a one year term AMC has received warrants to purchase at least 20 million shares or the equivalent of 50 1 of the company The time frame for exercising those warrants is open ended AMC said 28 Philanthropy editIn 2011 Johnson worked with Morgan Freeman to raise funds for hurricane preparedness in the Bahamas 29 Johnson released a neckwear line in coordination with PVH and The Ella Rose Collection the RLJ Ella Rose Africa Tie Collection in 2012 to benefit the charitable organization Malaria No More 30 In 2007 Johnson created the Liberia Enterprise Development Fund with a 30 million investment 5 31 32 The fund provides credit for Liberian entrepreneurs 5 Political activity editRole in 2008 election edit During the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries Johnson was a prominent surrogate for Hillary Clinton s presidential campaign During the campaign he was a HillRaiser a term for a leading fundraiser for Clinton s campaign 33 Following her defeat in the primary Johnson wrote to members of the Congressional Black Caucus CBC where he urged representatives to lobby Obama to select Clinton as his running mate 34 January 2008 Obama remarks controversy edit In January 2008 Johnson attracted controversy over remarks made about Barack Obama Clinton s primary rival which were interpreted as a criticism of Obama s admitted use of marijuana in his youth 35 36 As an African American I m frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Bill and Hillary Clinton who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won t say what he was doing but he said it in his book The Clinton campaign denied that Johnson was referring to Obama s past use of marijuana stating that his comments were referring to Obama s work as a community organizer 37 Critics accused Johnson of hypocrisy given that BET has prominently featured artists that glorify drug use and distribution 38 On January 17 2008 Johnson sent Obama the following apology 39 I m writing to apologize to you and your family personally for the un called for comments I made at a recent Clinton event In my zeal to support Senator Clinton I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry I hope that you will accept this apology Good luck on the campaign trail On April 14 2008 Johnson made comments to the effect that Obama would not be the Democratic Party s leading candidate if he were not black in defense of a similar comment made by Geraldine Ferraro He also went on to say I make a joke about Obama doing drugs and it s Oh my God a black man tearing down another black man 40 Political activity since 2016 edit nbsp Johnson speaking at a signing ceremony for an executive order by President Donald Trump on December 12 2018Following Donald Trump s victory in the 2016 presidential election Johnson met with the then president elect for a meeting at Trump International Golf Club Johnson stated in a CNBC interview that he had known Trump personally for years and urged Black Americans to give Trump a chance 41 Johnson argued that Black voters should not be wedded to either party in the American two party system stating that overwhelming Black support for the Democratic Party means we are locked into one party which undoubtedly limits and dilutes our voting power 41 In 2018 he stated that he declined an unspecified position in the Trump Administration 42 In 2019 Johnson praised Trump s economic policies stating that he gives the president a lot of credit for moving the economy in a positive direction that s benefiting a large amount of Americans He argued that tax cuts implemented under Trump helped stimulate the economy and inspire confidence among businesspeople He stated that the Democratic Party moved too far to the left and indicated he did not have a particular candidate he supported in the 2020 Democratic primary 43 In September 2020 during the 2020 general election Johnson made comments that were interpreted as him indicating a preference for Trump s reelection candidacy over Joe Biden s campaign However CNBC noted that Johnson when pressed refused to outright endorse Trump During the interview Johnson stated that w here I come out as a businessman I will take the devil I know over the devil I don t know anytime of the week 44 Personal life editJohnson married Sheila Johnson in 1969 3 They divorced in 2001 and have two children She is CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and owner of Salamander Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor 45 Johnson began dating Lauren Wooden who is 33 years his junior in 2010 As of 2016 Wooden was pursuing an international business management doctorate in Paris 46 They married in May 2016 Greg Mathis officiated 47 and divorced in 2020 See also editList of black American firsts Black billionairesReferences edit a b Miller Matthew May 6 2009 The Wealthiest Black Americans Forbes Magazine Archived from the original on December 15 2019 Retrieved September 21 2013 Robert Johnson became the first African American billionaire in 2000 after he sold the network to Viacom for 3 billion in stock and assumed swag Since then sagging Viacom and CBS stock plus investments in real estate hotels and banks have dragged Johnson s net worth to 550 million we estimate a b Bryant Adam November 12 2011 No Ranting and Raving Is Permitted The New York Times Retrieved September 21 2013 a b c d e f g h i j k l Eng Dinah November 9 2012 Bob Johnson moves way beyond BET Fortune Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved September 21 2013 a b c d e f g h i j Perl Peter December 14 1997 His Way The Washington Post Retrieved September 21 2013 a b c Johnson Robert May 13 2007 Liberia s Moment of Opportunity The Washington Post Retrieved September 21 2013 Business Most Notoroius USA Today June 30 2007 Retrieved September 21 2013 Benjamin Scott February 11 2009 Second Act for Robert Johnson CBS News Retrieved September 21 2013 a b Rhoden William C June 21 2004 Sports of The Times First Item for the Bobcats Win Over the Community The New York Times Retrieved September 21 2013 a b Robert L Johnson Biography Retrieved November 13 2020 Olson Elizabeth July 15 2006 He s Keeping Fingers in Many Pots The New York Times Retrieved September 21 2013 The Million Dollar BET Robert Johnson and the inside story of the Black Entertainment Television by Brett Pulley a b c d e f g h Dumaine Brian October 1 2002 The Market Nobody Wanted CNN Money Retrieved September 20 2013 a b Stodghill Ron February 18 2007 A Media Mogul Tries Remote Control The New York Times Retrieved August 1 2013 a b c d e Nycz Conner Jennifer May 29 2012 30 Years Black Entertainment Television goes public October 30 1991 Washington Business Journal Retrieved September 20 2013 a b COMPANY NEWS BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION TO BE SOLD The New York Times March 17 1998 Retrieved September 20 2013 a b c African American Empowerment Leaders Magazine January 2012 Retrieved September 20 2013 RLJ Companies About Retrieved September 20 2013 Romano Allison January 19 2009 Cutting Bait On Subchannels Broadcasting amp Cable Retrieved March 8 2018 RLJ ENTERTAINMENT INC Form 10 K Annual Report Filed 2013 04 10 secdatabase com Retrieved September 20 2013 LOWES COMPANIES INC Form 10 K Annual Report Filed 2013 04 02 secdatabase com Retrieved September 20 2013 Company Overview of Think Finance Inc Bloomberg Businessweek Archived from the original on September 22 2013 Retrieved September 20 2013 Gilpin Kenneth L August 15 2001 US Air Denied United Merger to Sketch New Strategy The New York Times Retrieved September 20 2013 General Mills Inc Form 8 K 2 11 04 sec gov Retrieved September 20 2013 Hilton Hotels Corp Form 10 K Filed March 30 1999 secdatabase com Retrieved September 20 2013 PRO BASKETBALL BET s Founder Wins Franchise The New York Times December 18 2002 Retrieved September 20 2013 BET founder Johnson awarded Charlotte franchise ESPN com December 18 2002 Retrieved September 20 2013 Sale of Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan approved by NBA Board of Governors ESPN com Associated Press December 18 2002 Retrieved September 20 2013 AMC Networks Invests in Robert Johnson s Streaming TV and Film Company Variety October 17 2016 Retrieved February 9 2018 Desmond Harris Jenee June 21 2011 Morgan Freeman and Bob Johnson Fundraising Team The Root Archived from the original on September 15 2011 Retrieved September 21 2013 Rowley Dorothy November 9 2012 Bob Johnson Launches Neck Tie Collection to Help Fight Malaria The Washington Informer Archived from the original on September 23 2013 Retrieved September 21 2013 Holder Christina July 14 2009 Americans lend a hand to new Liberia USA Today Retrieved September 20 2013 Adler Niel February 12 2007 RLJ Cos partners create 30 million Liberia fund Washington Business Journal Retrieved September 21 2013 Suarez Fernando January 13 2008 Clinton Supporters Come Out Swinging CBS News CBS News Retrieved January 12 2024 MacAskill Ewen June 4 2008 Obama resists pressure from Clinton for vice president role The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved January 12 2024 Another supporter Robert Johnson founder of Black Entertainment Television said he wrote to the Congressional Black Caucus urging members to push Obama to choose Clinton He said he had spoken with her on Tuesday and she was absolutely ready to become vice president Drugs Race Raised in Clinton Obama Fight CNN 13 January 2008 Smith Ben January 13 2008 Bob Johnson on President Obama s past Politico Retrieved February 12 2012 Drugs Race Raised in Clinton Obama Fight CNN 13 January 2008 The Hypocrisy of BET s Bob Johnson s Obama Smears AlterNet January 24 2008 Archived from the original on March 14 2008 Retrieved January 11 2024 RLJ Development LLC January 17 2008 Johnson cites race in President Obama s surge Archived April 20 2008 at the Wayback Machine a b Braun Aryn November 22 2016 BET Founder Says African Americans Should Give Trump a Shot Roll Call Retrieved January 12 2024 Lovelace Jr Berkeley April 6 2018 BET founder Trump s economy is bringing black workers back into the labor force CNBC Retrieved January 12 2024 Ellyatt Holly July 9 2019 Democrats have moved too far to the left says BET network founder Bob Johnson CNBC Retrieved January 12 2024 Stankiewicz Kevin September 30 2020 BET founder Robert Johnson says I will take the devil I know adding he doesn t know what Biden will do CNBC Retrieved November 10 2020 Sheila Johnson Marrying Very Well The Washington Post 2005 Retrieved May 14 2016 Heil Emily Roberts Roxanne January 5 2016 BET founder Bob Johnson engaged to Lauren Wooden The Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved April 15 2016 Heil Emily May 10 2016 BET founder Bob Johnson weds Lauren Wooden at Napa Valley ceremony The Washington Post Retrieved May 14 2016 External links editOfficial website nbsp Johnson Sets Sights on New Urban Cable Network Robert L Johnson at The Interviews An Oral History of Television nbsp Appearances on C SPAN How I Built This Live Episode Black Entertainment Television Robert Johnson Interview with Robert Johnson president and founder of BET from KUT s In Black America series on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting April 29 1986 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert L Johnson amp oldid 1197571771, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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