Search results
Robert Louis Johnson (born April 8, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor. He is the co-founder of BET, which was acquired by Viacom in 2001. He also founded RLJ Companies, a holding company that invests in various business sectors.
Apr 2, 2014 · Learn about Robert L. Johnson, the founder of BET and the first African American billionaire. Discover his career, philanthropy, and controversies in this comprehensive biography.
Feb 29, 2024 · Feb 29, 2024, 10:13 AM PST. Robert L. Johnson founded BET in 1980. Eleven years later, it became the first Black-owned company to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. L. Cohen/Getty...
- He's the founder of BET. Johnson created BET, a prominent cable station targeted toward an African-American audience, in 1980. He got his start in cable television after working in pay TV, where viewers pay through a subscription to watch a particular channel.
- He had the first black-owned company on the NYSE. In 1991, BET became the first black-owned company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, according to CNN Money.
- He came from humble beginnings. For the first few years of Johnson's life, his father chopped and sold timber while his mother taught school in Mississippi.
- He once owned the NBA Bobcats. Johnson became the first black majority owner of an NBA team with the purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2003, he completed a deal with the city for a $265 million arena that was to open in time for the 2005-2006 season.
Nov 8, 2010 · Robert Louis Johnson is the first African American billionaire and the founder of BET, a cable network that showcases black culture and music. He also owns the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team and a regional sports and entertainment network.
May 23, 2018 · Robert L. Johnson is the founder and president of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the first and only cable network to provide solely black programming. He is also a cable television executive, entrepreneur, and media mogul who has faced challenges and opportunities in the black consumer market.
People also ask
Who is Robert Johnson?
Who was Robert Louis Johnson?
Did Robert Johnson start Urban TV?
Who founded the RLJ Companies?
Nov 21, 2022 · The Television Academy honored Johnson and five other legends for their contributions to the industry. Johnson credited John Malone, his partner in creating BET, and urged the industry to support emerging Black entrepreneurs and artists.
