Sheila Johnson Biography Sheila Crump Johnson born January 25, 1949 is an American billionaire businesswoman, co-founder of BET, and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. As a vice chairman and partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson plays a key role in managing professional sports teams including the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA). In 2005, she founded Salamander Hospitality, which operates a diverse portfolio of properties such as Reunion Resort in Florida, the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina, Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Aurora Anguilla in the British West Indies, and the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia.
Sheila Johnson Biography 2024
Sheila Crump Johnson is an American billionaire businesswoman, co-founder of BET, and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts.
Born: 25 January 1949 (age 75 years), McKeesport, Pennsylvania, United States
Spouse: William T. Newman (m. 2005)
Books: Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph
Children: 2
Parents: Marie Iris Crump, George P. Crump
Education: Proviso East High School, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Known for: Co-founding BET
Sheila Johnson Biography 2024 Details
Born | Sheila Crump January 25, 1949 (age 75) McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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Education | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BA) |
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Known for | Co-founding BET |
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Title | Vice chairman, Monumental Sports & Entertainment |
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Spouses | |
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Children | 2 |
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Category | Lifestyle |
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Early Life
Johnson was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to a neurosurgeon father who worked for the Veterans Administration and an accountant mother. During her time at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, she was an active cheerleader, serving as captain of the varsity squad in her senior year. She later graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Sheila Johnson’s Net Worth
Sheila Johnson is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $850 million. She co-founded the television channel BET alongside her then-husband, Robert Johnson. The couple was married from 1969 until their divorce in 2002. In 2001, Viacom acquired BET for $3 billion, making the Johnsons the first Black billionaires in American history. Following their divorce, Robert paid Sheila a $400 million settlement, which at the time was one of the most expensive divorces on record.
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Black Entertainment Network
In 1979, Sheila and Robert Johnson co-founded the Black Entertainment Network, now known as BET. It was the first cable network aimed primarily at an African-American audience, starting as a two-hour weekly programming block on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network. With an initial investment of $15,000 and a $500,000 loan, Sheila aimed to create a platform for showcasing Black culture and voices often overlooked by mainstream media.
Initially featuring a modest lineup of music videos and reruns of Black sitcoms, BET quickly expanded. By the end of its first decade, it was broadcasting 24/7 and had become a staple of cable television, closely following the rise of hip-hop with programs like Video Soul and Rap City, which became vital for the genre’s exposure.
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Salamander Hospitality
In 2005, Sheila founded Salamander Hospitality, a hotel management company that today boasts a portfolio of upscale properties. Its flagship is The Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, renowned for its luxury accommodations, spa services, and dining. The company also owns Reunion Resort in Florida, the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina, and Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
As vice chairman and partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Sheila owns shares in the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. She serves as the managing partner of the Mystics and is the only African American woman to be the principal owner of three professional sports teams.
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Relationships
Sheila and Robert Johnson were married for 33 years, co-founding BET during their marriage. After their divorce, she received approximately $400 million. In September 2005, Sheila married William T. Newman, a judge in Arlington County, Virginia, who had presided over her divorce from Robert three years earlier.
Summmary
Sheila Crump Johnson is an American billionaire businesswoman and co-founder of BET, known for her role as CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. She has been actively involved in philanthropy, supporting women’s empowerment and serving on several boards, while also producing films. Johnson, who has been recognized with various awards for her contributions, was previously married to Robert L. Johnson, with whom she founded BET.