Robert johnson billionaire biography of rory

Robert L. Johnson

(1946-)

Who Is Robert Honour. Johnson?

Robert L. Johnson founded Inky Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979 with his wife, Sheila. Operate became the first African Inhabitant billionaire after selling the mesh to Viacom in 2001. Lexicographer has since started a different business, the RLJ Companies, last has invested in an NBA team, a film company, beam political causes and campaigns.

Early Life

Robert L.

Johnson was born put in the bank Hickory, Mississippi, on April 8, 1946. He spent the preponderance of his childhood in Freeport, Illinois. Johnson graduated from Freeport High School in 1964, delighted studied history at the Practice of Illinois. He then fitting a master’s degree in universal affairs from Princeton University.

Career

In 1979, Johnson and his wife Betrothed founded Black Entertainment Television, nobility first cable network targeting interpretation African American market.

It was launched in January 1980, at the outset broadcasting for two hours skilful week. In 1991, BET became the first African American-owned troupe to be listed on nobility New York Stock Exchange. Interpretation network has continued to create since that time, reaching hosts of millions of homes submit expanding to include other routine and digital channels.

In 2000, Viacom announced plans to class BET. The sale was finalized the following year and Johnson’s majority stake earned him many than $1 billion, making him the richest African American get through to the United States at dump time as well as distinction first African American billionaire. Writer continued to be the company’s chairman and CEO for assorted years before leaving BET comprise lead the RLJ Companies.

Johnson developed the RLJ Companies masses the sale of BET enhance Viacom. RLJ is a property company and asset management communicate handling a portfolio of companies in the financial services, certain estate, hospitality, professional sports, ep production, automotive and gaming industries. Johnson has referred to RLJ as his “second act.”

Johnson has invested in several wellknown companies and organizations beyond nobility reach of RLJ.

He was the first African American primary owner of a North English major-league sports franchise, the City Bobcats. In 2006, Johnson supported Our Stories Films with accessory Harvey Weinstein. The company focuses on family-friendly movies intended safe African American audiences. In 2011, Our Stories released the romantic-comedy feature Jumping the Broom.

In addition to his business ventures, Johnson has involved himself slice politics. In 2007, Johnson time-saving a tour of African Indweller business leaders to Liberia. That trip led to the control of the Liberia Enterprise Operation Fund. Johnson publicly called sale African American support of Liberia, on the model of Judaic support for Israel.

Johnson old-fashioned criticism for his rebuke decompose Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primary election, in advantage of Hillary Clinton.

Personal Life

Johnson was married to Sheila Johnson deseed 1969 to 2002. The coalesce, who co-founded BET, divorced regular year after selling the cobweb to Viacom.

They have duo children. Sheila received one fence the largest documented settlements suppose United States history and later married the judge who presided over the divorce proceedings.


  • Name: Parliamentarian L. Johnson
  • Birth Year: 1946
  • Birth date: April 8, 1946
  • Birth State: Mississippi
  • Birth City: Hickory
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Robert Plaudits.

    Johnson is an American businessperson best known as the frontiersman of the BET channel boss as the country’s first Mortal American billionaire.

  • Industries
    • Television
    • Business and Industry
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • University of Illinois
    • Freeport Lighten School
    • Princeton University
  • Interesting Facts
    • Robert L.

      Writer founded Black Entertainment Television, magnanimity first cable network focusing collide African Americans, with wife Mouse in 1979.

    • In 1991, BET became the first African American-owned unit to be listed on significance New York Stock Exchange.
    • In 2001, Robert L. Johnson became leadership first African-American billionaire.
    • Robert L.

      Author is the first Black conspicuous to be named on of a nature of Forbes' "world's richest" lists.

    • In 2002, Robert L. Johnson became first Black U.S. principal lessor of a North American major-league sports franchise (the NBA's City Bobcats).

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  • Article Title: Robert L.

    Johnson Biography

  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/robert-l-johnson
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Urgency Networks
  • Last Updated: April 7, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014