People

Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson

Formal First Name
Robert (Bob)
Link
Dates
1946 - present

Robert Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies, a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to this, he founded Black Entertainment Television, the first Black-owned television network in the United States. Johnson also holds interests in businesses operating in hotel real estate, private equity, 401k fintech services, automobile dealerships, content streaming, gaming, and sports betting. Today, he continues to attract and manage capital for investors.

Professional Experience


Academic History

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS


CAREER

  • Johnson has successfully taken several companies public, including: 
  • Black Entertainment Television became public in 1991, making the network the first African American company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange
  • RLJ Lodging Trust went public in 2011.
  • RLJ Entertainment marks the third time Johnson has taken a company public.
  • He sold BET to Viacom in 2001 for approximately $3 billion.
  • Two of his holding companies are ranked among the top Black-owned companies in the country on the Black Enterprise 100s list:  RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive Holdings, LLC and RLJ Equity Partners, LLC.


AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • In July 2007, Johnson was named by USA Today as one of the 25 most influential business leaders of the past 25 years.