Sheila Johnson

Sheila Crump Johnson

January 25, 1949 McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA

A Trailblazing Businesswoman

First African-American woman billionaire Co-Founder of BET Network

CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts

Career Highlights

Sheila Crump Johnson, born on January 25, 1949, is a prominent American businesswoman with a remarkable career:

  • Co-founder of BET: Johnson is celebrated as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), marking the first Black-owned cable television network. BET aimed to provide a platform for diverse programming and cultural representation.
  • CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts: Sheila Johnson assumed the role of CEO at Salamander Hotels and Resorts, a company she founded in 2005. Salamander’s extensive portfolio includes luxurious properties such as Reunion Resort, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Hotel Bennett, Half Moon, Aurora Anguilla, and The Salamander Resort & Spa.
  • Sports Franchise Owner: Johnson is a pioneering owner and partner in three professional sports franchises, breaking barriers as the first African-American woman to achieve this feat. She holds positions in the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA), serving as team president, managing partner, and governor of the WNBA’s Mystics.

Early Life and Education

  • Sheila Johnson was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on January 25, 1949. Her parents were a neuro-surgeon and an accountant.
  • During her high school years at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, she excelled as a cheerleader, eventually becoming the captain of the varsity squad during her senior year.
  • She pursued her education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Philanthropic Endeavors

  • Johnson is a dedicated humanitarian and serves as a Global Ambassador for CARE, an organization focused on fighting global poverty. Her “I Am Powerful Challenge” raised over $8 million in 2007.
  • She holds the position of Chair of the Board of Governors at Parsons The New School for Design in New York and generously funded the creation of the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, a facility combining classrooms, public program spaces, and galleries.
  • Johnson actively contributes to various organizations and sits on the boards of VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, Americans for the Arts, the Curry School of Education Foundation at the University of Virginia, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Additionally, she serves as the Ambassador for the Healthy Site Institute, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.

Film Ventures

  • In the realm of filmmaking, Johnson ventured into production. Her first film, “Kicking It,” debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She also served as the sole executive producer for her second film, “A Powerful Noise,” which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Family and Personal Life

  • Sheila Johnson was married to Robert L. Johnson for 33 years from 1969 to 2002. Together, they founded BET, revolutionizing television programming. They later sold the company to Viacom in 1999. The couple has two children.
  • Johnson expressed her concerns about BET’s shift in programming and its portrayal of women. She emphasized BET’s original mission to provide diverse content, including public affairs programming and news.
  • After her divorce from Robert L. Johnson in 2002, her estimated net worth was around $670 million. In 2009, Forbes magazine estimated her net worth at $400 million, and by May 2017, it had risen to $750 million.
  • On September 24, 2005, Johnson married Arlington County Circuit Court Chief Judge William T. Newman, whom she had known for three decades since they acted together in a play.

Community and Political Engagement

  • Johnson has been recognized for her contributions to society and career achievements. She was honored as one of the Library of Virginia’s “Virginia Women in History” in 2007.
  • While she identifies as a Democrat, Johnson endorsed Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell in 2009. She also publicly apologized for mocking Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds’ stutter at a rally.
  • In April 2010, Johnson criticized Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell for his proclamation of Confederate History Month, which did not reference slavery.
  • In April 2021, Johnson partnered with Washington Commanders’ team president Jason Wright to establish the Inclusive Growth Strategy Council within the Greater Washington Partnership.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Sheila Johnson’s remarkable contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being named an Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medalist in 2012.
  • In 2018, she received the Lincoln Medal, presented by Ford’s Theatre Society to individuals who exemplify the enduring legacy and character of Abraham Lincoln.
  • The Lincoln Academy of Illinois bestowed upon her the Order of Lincoln award in May 2019, the highest honor granted by the State of Illinois.
  • In October 2019, Sheila Johnson was honored with the Billie Jean King Leadership Award by the Women’s Sports Foundation.