As one of the most talked-about figures, Robert L. Johnson has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What Is Robert L. Johnson's Net Worth?

Robert and Sheila Johnson Divorce Settlement

Robert and Sheila Johnson were married from 1969 to 2002. When they divorced, Robert paid Sheila $400 million. That's enough to be one of the 10most expensive divorce settlementsof all time.

After stepping down from the NCTA in 1979, Johnson launched the cable television channel BET in 1980. The first cable channel aimed exclusively at African-Americans, it originally aired for only two hours on Friday nights. Eventually, in 1983, BET became its own full-fledged independent channel. Two years after that, it turned a profit for the first time. When BET went public in 1991, it became the first Black-controlled company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The channel expanded considerably over the subsequent years, launching digital cable networks and, in a joint venture with Starz, a multiplex service. In 2001, media conglomerateViacom purchased BET for $3 billion, erasing its status as a Black-owned business. However, from the sale, Robert became the first African-American billionaire in history. He remained in his position as CEO of BET until 2006.

He launched Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1980. BET was the first major TV network aimed towards African-Americans. In 1991, BET became the first Black-controlled company that was listed on the NYSE. BET was acquired by Viacom in 2000 for $3 billion. Johnson moved on from the company in 2006. He went on to found the RLJ Companies, which is a holding company with a very diverse portfolio.

Robert L. Johnson is an American businessman, executive, and investor who has a net worth of $650 million. Robert L. Johnson is best known for co-founding the cable channel BET with his wife, Sheila Johnson, in 1980. He also founded the asset management firm RLJ Companies and was majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats from 2002 to 2010. Johnson is notable for being the first African-American billionaire, a status he achieved in 2001 upon the sale of BET to Viacom.

Following his graduation from Princeton, Johnson entered the television industry as the public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He also served as the director of communications for the Washington, D.C., office of the civil rights organization National Urban League. Robert went on to become a press secretary to Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy. He later returned to the television industry to become the vice president of government relations at the National Cable and Television Association.

Robert Louis Johnson was born on April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi. He is the ninth of ten children of farmer Archie and schoolteacher Edna. When he was a kid, he moved with his family to Freeport, Illinois. As a young adult, Johnson went to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, from which he graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in social studies. He subsequently attended Princeton University as a graduate student, earning a master's degree in public affairs in 1972.

In 2002, he purchased the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the first African-American majority owner of a major American sports team. Hesold his majority stake in 2010 to Michael Jordan.

Ultimately, Robert L. Johnson's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.