Woody Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woody Johnson
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Official portrait, 2020
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| 66th United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
| In office November 8, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Matthew Barzun |
| Succeeded by | Jane D. Hartley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Wood Johnson IV
April 12, 1947 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Nancy Sale
(m. 1977; div. 2001)Suzanne Ircha
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Bobby Johnson Betty Wold |
| Relatives | Christopher Johnson (brother) |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) |
Robert Wood Johnson IV (born April 12, 1947), known as Woody Johnson, is an American businessman. He is famous for being a co-owner of the New York Jets football team. He also served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021.
Woody Johnson is a great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I. His family started the well-known Johnson & Johnson company, which makes health products. In 2000, he bought the New York Jets. It was the highest price paid for a New York sports team at that time. Today, he co-owns the Jets with his brother, Christopher Johnson.
Johnson has supported the Republican Party for a long time. He supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Trump later chose him to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. During his time as ambassador, important events happened, like Britain's exit from the EU (Brexit). The U.S. embassy in London also moved to a new building. His brother Christopher managed the Jets while Woody was an ambassador.
When he returned in 2021, Johnson became the Jets' chairman again. In 2023, he worked to bring star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the team. The Jets completed a trade for Rodgers in April. In 2022, Johnson tried to buy the Chelsea F.C. football club in London, but he later decided not to.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Woody Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His mother was Betty Johnson, and his father was Robert Wood Johnson III. His great-grandfather, Robert Wood Johnson I, started the Johnson & Johnson company. Woody grew up in northern New Jersey with his four siblings. He went to the Millbrook School and later graduated from the University of Arizona.
Career Highlights
Leading Investment Firms
Johnson was the chairman and chief executive of The Johnson Company, Inc. This company is a private investment firm.
He also led the committee for the San Antonio-class ship USS New York (LPD-21). This ship was built using steel from the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks.
His Role in Sports
In January 2000, Woody Johnson bought the New York Jets football team. He paid $635 million for it. This was a very high price for a sports team back then. As of 2019, the team was worth much more, about $3.2 billion.
After buying the Jets, Johnson moved the team to a new stadium. This stadium, now called MetLife Stadium, opened in 2010. The Jets share this stadium with the New York Giants.
In 2017, when Johnson became the U.S. Ambassador to the UK, his brother Christopher took over the Jets. Woody Johnson returned as chairman in 2021. Christopher then became vice-chairman.
In 2023, Johnson wanted to find a strong quarterback for the Jets. He said a good quarterback was the "missing piece" for the team. He worked hard to get four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. The Jets traded for Rodgers in April 2023.
In 2022, Johnson tried to buy the London football club Chelsea F.C.. He offered about £2 billion. He became a fan of the team while he was an ambassador in London. However, he later decided not to buy the club. Johnson also helped the NFL choose a new commissioner.
His Wealth
Woody Johnson is a billionaire. He inherited wealth from his family, who founded the Johnson & Johnson company. In 2017, his net worth was about $4.2 billion. Much of this came from his ownership of the Jets and its stadium. By April 2024, his wealth was estimated at $9.92 billion.
Political Support and Donations
Woody Johnson has given a lot of money to the Republican Party over the years. By 2000, he had donated over $1 million to Republican candidates. He helped raise money for George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2000.
In 2008, he organized a fundraiser for John McCain's presidential campaign. This event raised $7 million in one night. Johnson also helped fund the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2011, he supported Mitt Romney for president.
In 2016, Johnson first supported Jeb Bush for president. However, after Donald Trump became the likely Republican candidate, Johnson supported Trump. He helped raise money for Trump's campaign. By 2019, Johnson had donated $1.5 million to Trump's campaigns. He continued to donate to Trump's re-election efforts in 2020.
After the events at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, Johnson released a statement condemning them. In 2023, he continued to support Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Ambassador to Britain (2017-2021)
In January 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Johnson as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Johnson had no previous experience as a diplomat. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination in August 2017. He was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence. Johnson officially presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II in November 2017.
In 2018, Johnson oversaw the move of the United States Embassy in London. It moved from its old location to a new building in Nine Elms.
Britain's Exit from the EU
During Johnson's time as ambassador, Britain left the European Union. Johnson supported a trade deal between the U.S. and the UK after Brexit. He had a private dinner with Queen Elizabeth II in March 2019. This was just after the British Parliament rejected a Brexit plan.
In June 2019, he said a post-Brexit deal would cover "all things that are traded." This included the National Health Service (NHS) and farming. In January 2020, Johnson said the U.S. was not interested in the NHS. But he repeated that America wanted a free-trade deal with the UK.
Trade and Farming
Johnson wanted closer farming trade between the U.S. and UK. He also wanted fewer rules for U.S. food exports to Britain. In March 2019, Johnson wrote an article saying that chlorinated chicken was safe. He also said fears about hormone-fed beef were "myths." He urged the UK to open its markets to U.S. farm products after Brexit.
Some British farming groups criticized Johnson. They worried that U.S. food standards were lower than the UK's. The UK National Farmers Union agreed that chlorine-rinsed chicken was safe. But they said animal welfare and environmental protection were also important. They worried that accepting U.S. products made in ways illegal in the UK would hurt British farmers.
Huawei and 5G Networks
Johnson advised the UK government to ban Huawei from its 5G networks. He said Huawei could be an economic and security risk. He compared it to "letting a kleptomaniac move into your house." In 2020, Britain decided to ban Huawei from its 5G networks. Johnson welcomed this decision.
Concerns About His Conduct
In July 2020, some people raised concerns about Johnson's comments to embassy staff. They said he made comments about race and personal appearance. Johnson denied these claims. He said they did not match his values. The State Department supported Johnson, praising his professional conduct.
An official report later said that Johnson "sometimes made inappropriate or insensitive comments." These comments were about topics like religion or gender. The report said this could "create an offensive working environment." However, a later investigation found that the specific allegations against Johnson were not proven.
Golf Tournament Request
In 2018, Johnson tried to get the important British Open golf tournament moved to Trump's Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland. A former embassy official, Lewis Lukens, said that Trump had asked Johnson to do this. Lukens warned Johnson that this could be unethical. Johnson still raised the idea with a British official.
The British government said Johnson made no request about the British Open. Johnson said he followed all ethical rules. Trump denied speaking to Johnson about Turnberry. Lukens reported his concerns to State Department officials. Johnson later removed Lukens from his position.
Personal Life
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In 1977, Johnson married Nancy Sale Johnson. They had three children before divorcing in 2001. Their daughter Casey Johnson passed away in 2010 from a health condition. Woody Johnson started a research foundation, the Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus.
In 2009, Johnson married Suzanne Ircha. She was an actress and worked in finance. They have two children together. Suzanne's father came from Ternopil, Ukraine after World War II. Her mother was a first-generation Ukrainian American. Suzanne grew up in a Ukrainian neighborhood in Greenwich Village.
Johnson has homes in Bedminster Township, New Jersey, and Palm Beach, Florida. He sold a large apartment in Manhattan in 2014 for $80 million.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Woody Johnson is known for his charity work. He especially donates to medical research. He has raised money and pushed for more government funding for lupus and diabetes research. He is also a trustee for a charitable trust.
Supporting Diabetes Research
Johnson was the chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. He and his first wife became involved with diabetes charities after their daughter Casey was diagnosed with diabetes in 1988. In 1994, he co-wrote a book about managing childhood diabetes. By 2000, he had donated $12 million to the foundation. He also helped Congress approve $750 million for diabetes research in 2002.
After Casey passed away in 2010, Johnson wrote an article in The Wall Street Journal. He urged Congress to keep funding diabetes research. He also visited the University of Birmingham in 2018 to discuss their diabetes research.
Supporting Lupus Research
Johnson is the founder and chairman of the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR). He started this group in 1999. He did this after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus. He realized there was not enough research in that area.
Helping Ukraine
During the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Johnson and his wife Suzanne have helped Ukraine. Suzanne has Ukrainian family roots. They visited Poland, where many Ukrainian refugees went. They visited places helping refugees, like community centers and orphanages. Johnson also wrote an article urging the U.S. and UK to help Ukraine.
In April 2022, the New York Jets promised a $1 million donation to Ukraine. This money went to different organizations helping the country.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2020
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Johnson's first official Ambassador portrait
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Woody Johnson and his wife Suzanne Ircha Johnson with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
