Robert Wood Johnson IV, also known as Woody Johnson, is the heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. A billionaire businessman, Woody is also the owner of the NFL team New York Jets and has even served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom. Even though he already belonged to a billionaire family, Woody has made important contributions toward increasing the fame and wealth of the family. Find out more details about Woody Johnson’s net worth as of 2023, political stance, charitable activities, and more from this article.
Woody Johnson Net Worth in 2023
Name | Woody Johnson |
Profession | Businessman |
Net worth (2023) | $3 billion (est.) |
Source of wealth | Johnson & Johnson, New York Jets |
Woody Johnson Personal Biography
Woody Johnson was born on April 12, 1947, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Betty and Robert Wood Johnson III. He is also the great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I, the founder of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company. Woody attended the Millbrook School. and graduated from the University of Arizona. He has four other siblings with whom he grew up in New Jersey. Woody used to work summer jobs at Johnson & Johnson.
Johnson has been married twice. In 1977 he married Nancy Sale, a former fashion model and together they had three daughters. Their eldest daughter Casey Johnson died of diabetic ketoacidosis in 2010 and their second daughter Jaime was found to have lupus. The couple has been divorced since 2001.
Since 2009, Johnson has been married to former actress and equities managing director Suzanne Ircha Johnson. They have two sons together. Johnson resides in Palm Beach, Florida, and has homes in Bedminster Township, New Jersey, and Manhattan, New York.
Full name | Robert Wood Johnson IV |
Profession | Businessman |
Age | Born on April 12, 1947 |
Gender | Male |
Place of birth | New Brunswick, New Jersey, US |
Education | University of Arizona (BA) |
Marital status | Married |
Spouse | Nancy Sale (1977 – 2001) Suzanne Ircha (2009 – present) |
Children | 5 |
Palm Beach, Florida | |
Nationality | American |
Parents | Betty Wold (mother) Bobby Johnson (father) |
Woody Johnson Professional Life
Woody Johnson is the heir to the fortune of the billion-dollar company Johnson & Johnson. He has also served as the chairman and chief executive of the private investment firm, The Johnson Company, Inc.. Johnson expanded his area of business and entered the field of sports by buying the New York Jets for $635 million in 2000. his bid for the team was the third-highest price for a professional sports team at the time and also the highest for a New York professional sports team.
In 2017, the then President of the United States announced his nomination for Johnson to become United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Johnson who had no diplomatic experience before was confirmed by the US Senate and was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence in the Oval Office for the ambassador position. It was during Johnson’s tenure as the US ambassador to the UK that Britain withdrew from the European Union.
After Woody Johnson became the US ambassador to the UK, his younger brother Christopher Johnson took over as CEO and acting owner of the New York Jets. After his return from the position, Johnson returned as its chairman, while Christopher Johnson became vice-chairman.
Political Stakes
Woody Johnson has been an active political donor for the Republican Party. He has donated over $1 million to various Republican candidates and committees and was one of the major donors to George W. Bush’s 1998 gubernatorial re-election campaign in Texas. He also raised a significant amount of funds for Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. For John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008, Johnson organized a fundraiser, bringing in a whopping $7 million in a single evening. In 2011, Johnson was the supporter of Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts Governor, and even endorsed his 2012 Republican presidential primaries.
After Trump became the nominee for the 2016 presidential campaign, Johnson began endorsing him. The two have been close for over 30 years through many social connections. Johnson donated over a million dollars to Trump’s campaign and inaugural committee. Johnson also donated heavily for Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and was reported to be doing so for his 2024 campaign as well.
Philanthropy
Johnson is not only a successful businessman, and a significant political donor but also a major philanthropist. He is a trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust and a former trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. After they found out about their daughter’s diabetic condition, Woody and his then-wife Nancy became involved with diabetes charities. Johnson also founded the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) after he found out that his second daughter was suffering from lupus. Johnson has also persuaded to increase federal funding for research on the two conditions.
In the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022, Johnson extended his support along with his wife Suzanne, who comes from a Ukrainian background. They have visited community centers, shelters, and orphanages in Poland where refugees have taken shelter. He also donated $1 million to different Ukrainian organizations in monthly installments of $100,000 to help support the refugees. To raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis going over in Ukraine, his NFL team the New York Jets added Ukrainian flag decals to their helmets.
Forbes Lists
Woody Johnson has been featured twice on the Forbes list. Check the listing below:
- #852 Billionaires (2023)
- #327 Forbes 400 (2022)
Woody Johnson on Social Media
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the net worth of Woody Johnson in 2023?
$3 billion (approx.)
What is the total net worth of the Johnson family?
$10 billion (est.)
Who owned the Jets before Woody Johnson bought it?
Leon Hess
Who is the richest NFL team owner in 2023?
Rob Walton (net worth around $67 billion)
Has Johnson also purchased Chelsea FC?
No he made a bid to purchase Chelsea FC but later withdrew it.