Robert L. Johnson

Robert L. Johnson

April 8, 1946

First African-American billionaire

founder of Black Entertainment Television

the first Black American to become the majority owner of a professional sports organization when he acquired the Charlotte NBA franchise in 2003. He also took ownership of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting.

Founder of RLJ Entertainment, Inc.

Robert Louis Johnson: Business and Entrepreneurial Legacy

Early Life and Education

  • Date of Birth: April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi.
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Illinois in 1968.
    • Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) from Princeton University in 1972.

Career Highlights

  • Founder and Chairman: Robert Louis Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies, LLC, a diverse portfolio of companies spanning various industries such as real estate, hospitality, professional sports, media, entertainment, and gaming.
  • Pioneering Black-Owned Television Network: Johnson’s most notable achievement is his founding of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation’s first Black-owned cable television network. He started BET with initial investments from Tom Wheeler and John Malone, eventually making it the first black-owned business to go public on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Historic Ownership in Professional Sports: Johnson made history as the first Black American to become the majority owner of a professional sports organization when he acquired the Charlotte NBA franchise in 2003. He also took ownership of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting.
  • RLJ Entertainment: In 2012, Johnson successfully created RLJ Entertainment, Inc., a premium digital channel company, with popular streaming services like Acorn TV and UMC (Urban Movie Channel). This marked his third successful company to go public.
  • Other Ventures: Johnson has significant interests in various industries, including automobile dealerships, content streaming, 401k fintech services, and gaming.

Personal Life

  • Johnson married Sheila Johnson in 1969, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 2001. In May 2016, he married Lauren Wooden.

Honors and Awards

  • USA Today named him one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years” in July 2007.
  • Ranked second on Black Enterprise’s list of “Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business” in their 40th Anniversary Issue.
  • Recognized as the most influential minority in sports by Sports Illustrated magazine in 2003.
  • Named the 2003 Newsmaker of the Year by The Charlotte Post.
  • Sporting News listed him as the second-most powerful owner in sports in 2003.
  • Winner of the 1997 Hall of Fame Award by Broadcasting & Cable Magazine.
  • Received Cablevision Magazine’s 20/20 Vision Award, recognizing him as one of the twenty most influential people in the cable industry.
  • Honored with an NAACP Image Award, President’s Award from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, CTAM’s Grand Tam Award, and National Women’s Political Caucus’ Good Guys Award.
  • Awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from Princeton University.

Philanthropy and Community Service

  • Established the Liberia Enterprise Development Fund with a $30 million investment in 2007, providing credit for Liberian entrepreneurs.
  • Donated $1 million toward the construction of the West Boulevard YMCA in Charlotte.

Current Status

  • Mr. Johnson currently serves on the boards of several companies, including RLJ Lodging Trust, KB Home, Discovery, Inc., Elevate Credit, Inc., G-III Apparel Group, Ltd., and The Business Council. He is also a member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Education

  • Holds a Master’s degree in international affairs from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University (1968).
  • Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies from the University of Illinois.

Legacy

Robert Louis Johnson’s legacy is defined by his groundbreaking achievements as a businessman, media mogul, and philanthropist. He is celebrated for pioneering BET as the first Black-owned cable television network, achieving historic ownership in professional sports, and successfully leading multiple companies to go public. Johnson’s philanthropic endeavors and dedication to entrepreneurship have left a lasting impact on various industries, and his influence in both business and society continues to be acknowledged and honored.