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, often called Woody Johnson, is a well-known American businessman. He is famous for owning the New York Jets, a professional American 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, who helped start the famous company Johnson & Johnson.
In 2000, Woody Johnson and his brother, Christopher Johnson, bought the New York Jets. Later, when he became an ambassador, his brother Christopher took over running the team. After his time as ambassador, Woody Johnson returned to lead the Jets again. He is also known for his charity work, especially in medical research.
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Early Life and School
Woody Johnson was born on April 12, 1947, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His parents were Betty Johnson and Robert Wood Johnson III. His great-grandfather, Robert Wood Johnson I, founded the Johnson & Johnson company with his brothers.
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. For one summer, he worked at Johnson & Johnson.
Career Highlights
The Johnson Company
Before buying the Jets, Woody Johnson was the head of The Johnson Company, Inc. This was a private company that invested money.
In 2006, he settled a tax issue with the IRS, agreeing to pay the taxes he owed plus interest. He also helped with the committee for the San Antonio-class ship USS New York (LPD-21).
Owning the New York Jets
In January 2000, Woody Johnson bought the New York Jets football team for $635 million. At that time, it was one of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. By December 2024, the team's value was estimated to be around $6.9 billion.
After buying the Jets, Johnson moved the team to the new Meadowlands Stadium. He shared this stadium, which later became MetLife Stadium, with the New York Giants. The stadium opened in April 2010.
When he became the U.S. Ambassador in 2017, his brother, Christopher Johnson, became the CEO and acting owner of the Jets. Woody Johnson returned to his role as chairman in 2021.
In January 2023, Johnson said the Jets needed a strong quarterback to improve the team. He then worked to bring four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to the team. In April 2023, the Jets completed a trade with the Green Bay Packers for Rodgers. The Jets have had the longest active playoff drought in the NFL as of 2025.
During the 2024 New York Jets season, Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh. In January 2025, he hired Aaron Glenn as the new head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager. Johnson stated he wanted to be less involved in the team's daily management.
Under Johnson's leadership, the New York Jets Foundation has supported many good causes. These include youth sports, help for military veterans, education, and medical research. The team has also supported girls' flag football programs in different countries. In 2015, Johnson received an award for his charity work as an NFL owner.
Other Sports Teams
In March 2022, Johnson tried to buy the London football club Chelsea F.C. for £2 billion. He had become a fan of the team while he was an ambassador in London. However, he later decided not to buy the team.
In June 2025, he agreed to buy a 45% share in another London club, Crystal Palace F.C.. This deal would make him the largest shareholder in the club, but it still needs approval from the Premier League.
Net Worth
Woody Johnson is a billionaire. He is a descendant of one of the founders of the Johnson & Johnson company, so he inherited part of the family's wealth. In 2017, he reported his net worth as $4.2 billion. Most of his wealth comes from owning the Jets and its stadium. By April 2024, his net worth was estimated to be around $9.92 billion.
Political Support
Woody Johnson has given a lot of money to the Republican Party and its candidates over the years. He supported George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2000.
In 2008, he helped raise $7 million for John McCain's presidential campaign. He also helped with funding for the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2011, he supported Mitt Romney for president.
In the 2016 presidential election, Johnson first supported Jeb Bush. However, after Donald Trump became the likely Republican candidate, Johnson endorsed Trump. He helped raise money for Trump's campaign. By August 2019, he had donated $1.5 million to Trump's campaigns. He continued to donate to Trump's campaigns in 2020 and 2023.
On January 8, 2021, Johnson spoke out against the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
Ambassador to Britain (2017-2021)
On January 19, 2017, Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Johnson as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Johnson had no previous experience as a diplomat. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017. He officially started his role on November 8, 2017, when he presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2018, Johnson oversaw the move of the United States Embassy in London to a new building in Nine Elms.
Brexit and Trade
During Johnson's time as ambassador, Britain left the European Union. Johnson supported a trade deal between the U.S. and the U.K. after Brexit. He believed this deal would cover many traded goods.
In January 2020, Johnson stated that the U.S. was not interested in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) as part of a trade deal. He continued to emphasize American interest in a free-trade agreement with the UK.
Agriculture Trade
Johnson also pushed for closer agricultural trade between the U.S. and the U.K. He wanted to make it easier for U.S. food products to be sold in Britain. He wrote an article saying that certain U.S. food practices, like using "chlorinated chicken," were safe.
Some British farming groups disagreed, saying that accepting U.S. products made in ways that were illegal in the U.K. would harm British farmers. However, the U.S. National Farmers Union said their methods were safe.
Huawei
Johnson advised the U.K. government to ban Huawei from being used in the nation's 5G networks. He said that Huawei could be a risk to the economy and security. In 2020, after Britain decided to ban Huawei, Johnson praised the decision.
Embassy Staff Allegations
In July 2020, some staff members accused Johnson of making inappropriate comments. Johnson denied these claims, saying they did not match his values. The State Department investigated these allegations.
The investigation report in August 2020 stated that Johnson "sometimes made inappropriate or insensitive comments" about topics like religion or gender. However, a later investigation by the State Department's Office of Civil Rights found that the specific allegations against Johnson were unsubstantiated.
British Open Golf Tournament
In February 2018, Johnson reportedly tried to have the British Open golf tournament moved to Trump's Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland. A former U.S. embassy official said that President Trump had asked Johnson to do this. The official warned Johnson that this could be unethical. Johnson did not deny the event, saying he followed ethical rules. The British government stated Johnson made no request about the British Open.
Personal Life
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In 1977, Woody Johnson married Nancy Sale Johnson. They had three children before they divorced in 2001. Sadly, their daughter Casey Johnson passed away in 2010 from a serious health condition. He started a research foundation, the Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus.
In 2009, Johnson married Suzanne Ircha. They have two children together. Suzanne's father came from Ukraine after World War II. She grew up in a Ukrainian neighborhood in New York City.
Woody Johnson has homes in Bedminster Township, New Jersey, and Palm Beach, Florida. He sold his apartment in Manhattan in 2014 for $80 million, which was a record for a co-op sale in New York at the time.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Woody Johnson is known for his charity work, especially for medical research. He has raised money and worked to increase government funding for research into lupus and diabetes. He is also a trustee for the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust.
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, they even wrote a book together called Managing Your Child's Diabetes. By 2000, he had donated $12 million to the foundation. He also helped convince Congress to approve $750 million for diabetes research in 2002.
After Casey passed away in 2010, Johnson wrote an article in The Wall Street Journal in 2012. He urged Congress to continue funding diabetes research.
Lupus Research
Johnson is the founder and chairman of the Lupus Research Alliance. This organization provides money for research to find better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent lupus. He started the organization in 1999 after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus. He wanted to bring more attention to lupus research. In 2023, the Lupus Research Alliance partnered with the FDA to improve clinical trials for lupus treatments.
Helping Ukraine
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Johnson and his wife Suzanne, who has Ukrainian family, organized efforts to help Ukraine. They visited Poland to see Ukrainian refugees and provided aid to community centers and orphanages. Johnson also wrote an article urging the United States and the United Kingdom to help Ukraine.
In April 2022, the Jets team promised a $1 million donation to Ukraine. This money was given to various organizations helping with the crisis.
