| (
- ) |
| Inducted: |
2008 |
| Region: |
U.S. |
| Industry: |
Finance
Entertainment |
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Robert L. Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies, an innovative business network that owns or holds interests in a diverse portfolio of companies in the banking/financial services, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production, gaming and automotive industries. In July 2007, Johnson was chosen by USA TODAY as one of the 25 most influential business leaders of the past 25 years.
Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Mr. Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation’s first and leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news, sports and public affairs programming for the African American audience. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, BET became the first African American-owned company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2000, Mr. Johnson sold BET to Viacom for approximately $3 billion and remained the Chief Executive Officer through 2005.
In addition to The RLJ Companies’ substantial holdings across a variety of industries, it owns the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise and arena operations in Charlotte, North Carolina—the first major sports franchise owned by African American. |
