Sheila Crump Johnson, the first African-American woman to become a billionaire, was born in the United States on January 25, 1949. She is the co-founder of BET and the CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts.
Before the 2005 season, Johnson was promoted to the roles of president, managing partner, and governor of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. On May 24, 2005, Washington Sports and Entertainment Chairman, Abe Pollin, sold the Mystics to Lincoln Holdings LLC, where Johnson served as president.
The Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA) all include her as an owner or partner for the first time.
Sheila Johnson Net worth
American businesswoman and philanthropist Sheila Johnson is worth $850 million. As a co-founder of the BET television network, Sheila Johnson made the lion’s share of the money. She and her ex-husband, Robert Johnson, created BET. Robert and Sheila’s marriage lasted from 1969 till 2002. BET was purchased by Viacom for $3 billion in 2001.
Since the sale, the Johnsons have become the first African-Americans to reach the status of billionaires in the United States. When Robert and Sheila divorced in 2002, the settlement was reportedly worth $400 million to Sheila. At the time it was one of the most costly divorces in history.
Sheila started the hospitality company Salamander Hospitality, which now owns many hotels and a golf club. Sheila owns a piece of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League, the Wizards of the National Basketball Association, and the Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball Association through the holding company Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
Sheila was behind the scenes for “The Butler,” a film about a former slave named Cecil Gaines who becomes a butler in the White House and is portrayed by Forest Whitaker. Additionally, she established the Middleburg Film Festival.
Sheila Johnson Early Years
On January 25, 1949, Sheila Crump entered the world in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Both of her parents had professional careers; her dad was a VA doctor and mom an accountant. She earned her degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after she attended Proviso East High School in Maywood.
Sheila Johnson Historic Events in Sports & Showbiz
Sheila has ownership interests in the Washington Capitals of the NHL, the Washington Wizards of the NBA, and the Washington Mystics of the WNBA through her holding company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
She serves as the Managing Partner of the Washington Mystics and as Vice Chairman of Monumental. She’s the only African-American woman to occupy the position of majority owner for three different major league clubs.
Sheila Johnson Relationships
The Johnsons’ 33-year marriage began in 1969 and lasted until 2002. Having helped start BET in 1979, they sold it in 2001. After divorcing Robert, she walked away with an estimated $400 million, as we previously said.
Sheila wed William T. Newman, an Arlington County, Virginia judge, in September 2005. Three years ago, she and Johnson were divorced, and Newman was the judge.
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