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Birth
Robert L Johnson was born in Hickory, MS in -
Life
spent most of his life in Freeport Illinois until 1963 -
school
Graduated Freeport High Schooling 1964, and studied history in the University of Illinois. -
Career
In 1979, he and his wife Sheila founded Black Entertainment Television -
History
BET was launched in January 1980, initially broadcasting for two hours a week. -
History
In 1991, BET became the first African American-owned company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. -
Success
In 2000, Viacom announced plans to purchase BET. The sale was finalized the following year and Johnson’s majority stake earned him more than $1 billion, making him the richest African American in the United States at that time as well as the first African-American billionaire. -
Growth
in 2002 he developed RLJ Companies. RLJ is a holding company and asset management firm handling a portfolio of companies in the financial services, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production, automotive and gaming industries. -
BMD
Him and his wife divorced in 2002 -
other stuff
In 2006, he founded Our Stories Films with partner Harvey Weinstein. In 2011, "Our Stories" released the romantic-comedy "Jumping the Broom" -
Today
Where he currently lives is unspecified, but he is now 72 years old and worth $550 million.
