 Robert L. "Bob" Johnson (born April 8, 1946) is an American businessman and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), and is also its former chairman and chief executive officer. Johnson is currently chairman and founder of RLJ Development and former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, a National Basketball Association franchise along with rapper Nelly and NBA legend and current majority owner Michael Jordan.
In 2001 Johnson became the first African American billionaire, and the first black person to be listed on any of Forbes world's rich list. In 2009 Forbes estimated that his net worth declined to $550 million, many speculate due to hastily and thus poorly made financial decisions, many of which have been condemned by his peers and financial advisers alike.
Johnson was born in Hickory, Mississippi on April 8, 1946, but spent almost all of his childhood in Freeport, Illinois. He was the ninth of 10 children born to Edna Johnson; Archie Johnson. Johnson graduated from Freeport High School in 1964. He studied history at the University of Illinois and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree. While at the University of Illinois, Johnson was a member of the Beta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He earned a master's degree in International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
For 33 years from 1969-2002 he was married to Sheila Johnson. Together they founded the entertainment network BET. They sold the company to Viacom in 2001. They have two children: accomplished equestrian daughter Paige Johnson (1986), and a son Brett Johnson (1990)
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