History of Woody Johnson in Timeline
Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV is an American businessman, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, and co-owner of the New York Jets. He served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021. Johnson's business career has primarily been focused on the Johnson Company and the New York Jets.
1921: Birth of Betty Johnson
In 1921, Betty Johnson (née Wold), Woody Johnson's mother, was born.
1938: US Embassy Location
The United States Embassy was located in Grosvenor Square in London since 1938.
April 12, 1947: Robert Wood Johnson IV Born
On April 12, 1947, Robert Wood Johnson IV was born. He is an American businessman and co-owner of the New York Jets.
1977: Marriage to Nancy Sale Johnson
In 1977, Woody Johnson married Nancy Sale Johnson, a former fashion model. They later had three children together.
1988: Daughter Casey Diagnosed with Diabetes
In 1988, Woody Johnson's daughter Casey was diagnosed with diabetes, leading to his involvement with diabetes charities.
1994: Co-authors Book on Managing Childhood Diabetes
In 1994, Woody Johnson co-authored the book "Managing Your Child's Diabetes" with his wife Nancy and daughter Casey.
1997: Donation to Republican Party
Between 1997 and 1998, Woody Johnson donated $130,000 to the Republican Party.
1998: Donation to George W. Bush's Campaign
Between 1997 and 1998, Woody Johnson donated $22,583 to George W. Bush's 1998 gubernatorial re-election campaign of Texas.
1999: Founding of Alliance for Lupus Research
In 1999, Woody Johnson founded the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus and he realized the lack of research in that area.
January 2000: Purchase of New York Jets
In January 2000, Woody Johnson purchased the New York Jets for $635 million, which was the third-highest price ever paid for a professional sports team at the time.
2000: Donation to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
As of 2000, Woody Johnson had donated $12 million to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
2000: Donations to Republican Candidates
By the year 2000, Woody Johnson had donated more than $1 million to various Republican candidates and committees.
2000: Purchase of the New York Jets
In 2000, Woody Johnson purchased the New York Jets for $635 million, which was the highest price for a New York professional sports team at the time.
2001: Divorce from Nancy Sale Johnson
In 2001, Woody Johnson divorced Nancy Sale Johnson.
2002: Lobbying for Diabetes Research Funding
In 2002, Woody Johnson successfully lobbied Congress to approve a five-year, $750 million package for funding diabetes research.
2006: Settlement with the IRS
In 2006, Woody Johnson settled with the IRS, agreeing to pay owed taxes plus interest related to the purchase of capital gain losses.
May 2008: Fundraiser for John McCain
In May 2008, Woody Johnson orchestrated a fundraiser in New York City that raised $7 million for John McCain's presidential campaign.
2009: Marriage to Suzanne Ircha
In 2009, Woody Johnson married Suzanne Ircha, a former actress and equities managing director.
January 4, 2010: Casey Johnson's Death
On January 4, 2010, Casey Johnson, daughter of Woody Johnson, passed away due to diabetic ketoacidosis.
April 10, 2010: Opening of MetLife Stadium
On April 10, 2010, the Meadowlands Stadium, later named MetLife Stadium, officially opened. Johnson moved the New York Jets to the stadium, sharing it with the New York Giants.
2010: Death of Daughter Casey Johnson
In early 2010, Woody Johnson's daughter, Casey Johnson, passed away due to diabetic ketoacidosis.
2011: Endorsement of Mitt Romney
In 2011, Woody Johnson endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries.
2011: Criticism of Johnson's Ownership Begins
Since the start of the 2011 season, many in the media have criticized Woody Johnson's ownership of the New York Jets, citing the team's playoff drought and draft busts.
October 24, 2012: Opinion Piece on Diabetes Research Funding
On October 24, 2012, Woody Johnson wrote an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal titled "The Folly of Defunding Diabetes Research", urging Congress to approve long-term funding for the Special Diabetes Program.
2012: Endorsement of Mitt Romney
In 2012, Woody Johnson endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential primaries.
September 2013: Fundraiser for the Republican National Committee
In September 2013, Woody Johnson hosted a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee (RNC) at his home in New York City.
2014: Sale of Manhattan Apartment
In 2014, Woody Johnson sold his two-floor duplex apartment in Manhattan to Leonard Blavatnik for $80 million, setting a record for the costliest co-op ever sold in New York.
June 2015: Named National Finance Chairman for Jeb Bush
In June 2015, Woody Johnson was named the national finance chairman for Jeb Bush's presidential campaign.
May 2016: Endorsed Donald Trump for President
In May 2016, after Donald Trump became the presumptive nominee, Woody Johnson endorsed Trump for president.
January 19, 2017: Nomination as Ambassador Announced
On January 19, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Woody Johnson as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
June 22, 2017: Trump Nominated Johnson as Ambassador
On June 22, 2017, Donald Trump formally nominated Woody Johnson as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
August 3, 2017: Confirmation as U.S. Ambassador
On August 3, 2017, Woody Johnson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
August 21, 2017: Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador
On August 21, 2017, Woody Johnson was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom by Vice President Mike Pence.
November 8, 2017: Presented Credentials to Queen Elizabeth II
On November 8, 2017, Woody Johnson presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
2017: Appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In 2017, Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson was appointed as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
2017: Net Worth Disclosure
In 2017, Woody Johnson's financial disclosure form listed his net worth at $4.2 billion, primarily tied to his ownership of the New York Jets and Johnson & Johnson shares.
2017: Christopher Johnson Assumed Leadership of the Jets
In 2017, upon Woody Johnson's appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, his brother, Christopher Johnson, took on the roles of CEO and acting owner of the New York Jets.
February 2018: Sought to Move British Open to Trump's Golf Resort
In February 2018, as ambassador, Woody Johnson sought to have the British Open golf tournament moved to Trump's Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland.
2018: Overseeing Embassy Relocation
In 2018, Woody Johnson oversaw the relocation of the United States Embassy in London from Grosvenor Square to a new location in Nine Elms.
2018: Visit to University of Birmingham
In 2018, Woody Johnson visited the University of Birmingham to discuss the university's diabetes research and research library.
March 14, 2019: Private Dinner with Queen Elizabeth II
On March 14, 2019, Woody Johnson had a private dinner with Queen Elizabeth II at Winfield House, just two days after the British Parliament rejected Theresa May's Brexit plan.
March 2019: Advocacy for Chlorinated Chicken
In March 2019, Woody Johnson wrote an article advocating for chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef in the UK market, sparking controversy.
June 2019: Comments on Post-Brexit Trade Deal
In June 2019, Woody Johnson stated that a post-Brexit deal between the US and the UK would cover "all things that are traded", including the National Health Service and agricultural sector.
August 2019: Donation to Donald Trump's Campaigns
By August 2019, Woody Johnson had donated $1.5 million to Donald Trump's presidential campaigns and inaugural committee.
2019: Advised UK Government to Ban Huawei
In 2019, Woody Johnson advised the UK government to ban Huawei from being used in the nation's 5G networks.
January 2020: Clarification on NHS Interest
In January 2020, Woody Johnson stated that the US was never interested in the NHS, but reiterated American interest in a free-trade deal with the UK.
February 2020: Donation to Trump's Re-election Campaign
In February 2020, Woody Johnson donated $575,000 to a fundraising committee for Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign and $355,000 to the RNC.
May 2020: Donation to America First Action, Inc.
In May 2020, Woody Johnson donated $1 million to America First Action, Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC.
July 2020: State Department Investigation
In July 2020, the State Department investigated allegations that Woody Johnson made inappropriate comments about issues concerning race, personal appearance, and Black History Month.
August 2020: Lukens Interview on Inspector General's Report
In August 2020, Lukens stated in an interview that the State Department inspector general's report regarding Johnson's actions had halted without a public report, which he found unusual.
August 2020: Inspector General Report
In August 2020, the inspector general issued a report stating that Woody Johnson "sometimes made inappropriate or insensitive comments" that could "create an offensive working environment".
2020: Death of Betty Johnson
In 2020, Betty Johnson (née Wold), Woody Johnson's mother, passed away.
2020: Welcomed Ban on Huawei
In 2020, after Britain decided to ban Huawei from its 5G mobile networks, Woody Johnson welcomed the decision as a victory for human rights and fair trading practices.
2020: Residency in Palm Beach, Florida
Since 2020, Woody Johnson has resided in Palm Beach Island, Florida.
January 8, 2021: Statement Condemning Capitol Attack
On January 8, 2021, Woody Johnson released a statement condemning the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
2021: End of Ambassadorship and Resumption of Jets Chairman Role
In 2021, Woody Johnson's tenure as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom concluded, and he resumed his role as chairman of the New York Jets.
2021: Woody Johnson Resumed Chairman Role
In 2021, after returning from his ambassadorship, Woody Johnson resumed his position as chairman of the New York Jets, with Christopher Johnson becoming vice-chairman.
2021: Resumed Role as Chairman
In 2021, upon his return from being the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Johnson resumed his role as chairman of the New York Jets.
March 2022: Bid to Purchase Chelsea F.C.
In March 2022, Woody Johnson made a £2 billion bid to purchase London football club Chelsea F.C., but he later withdrew from the bidding process.
April 2022: Jets Pledge Donation to Ukraine
In April 2022, the Jets pledged a $1 million donation to Ukraine, to be distributed to various organizations.
2022: Bid for Chelsea F.C.
In 2022, Johnson made a £2 billion bid for Chelsea F.C. but withdrew from the bidding process later that month.
January 2023: Expressed Need for Strong Quarterback
In January 2023, Woody Johnson expressed the New York Jets' need for a strong quarterback, identifying it as the 'missing piece' for the team.
April 24, 2023: Jets Finalizing Trade for Aaron Rodgers
On April 24, 2023, it was reported that the New York Jets were finalizing a trade deal with the Green Bay Packers to acquire Aaron Rodgers.
2023: Donation to Super PAC Backing Trump
In 2023, Woody Johnson donated at least $1 million to a super PAC supporting Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
2023: Pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
In 2023, Woody Johnson pursued Aaron Rodgers, and the New York Jets finalized a trade with the Green Bay Packers in April to acquire him.
April 2024: Estimated Net Worth
As of April 2024, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated Woody Johnson's net worth at $9.92 billion.
2024: Estimated Value of the New York Jets
As of December 2024, Forbes estimated the value of the New York Jets, owned by Woody Johnson, at $6.9 billion.
2024: Supported Trump at Election Rally
In 2024, Woody Johnson stood behind Donald Trump at an election-night rally during the South Carolina primary.
2024: Criticism of Johnson's Impatience
In the 2024 season, Woody Johnson was criticized by the media for his impatience and recklessness, such as firing Robert Saleh after only five games.
