History of Woody Johnson in Timeline

Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV is an American businessman, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, and owner/chairman of the New York Jets. He purchased the Jets in 2000 for $635 million with his brother. Johnson served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1921: Birth of Betty Johnson (née Wold)

In 1921, Betty Johnson (née Wold), Woody Johnson's mother, was born.

1938: Embassy Location in Grosvenor Square

The United States Embassy was located in Grosvenor Square from 1938 until 2018.

April 12, 1947: Robert Wood Johnson IV Born

On April 12, 1947, Robert Wood Johnson IV, also known as Woody Johnson, was born. He is an American businessman and the owner and chairman of the New York Jets.

1977: Johnson Marries Nancy Sale Johnson

In 1977, Woody Johnson married former fashion model Nancy Sale Johnson. They had three children together.

1988: Daughter Diagnosed with Diabetes

In 1988, Woody Johnson's daughter Casey was diagnosed with diabetes. He and his wife became involved with diabetes charities.

1994: Johnson Co-Writes Book on Managing Childhood Diabetes

In 1994, Woody Johnson co-wrote the book "Managing Your Child's Diabetes" with his wife Nancy, and 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: Johnson Founds Alliance for Lupus Research

In 1999, Woody Johnson founded the legacy organization, Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus, to encourage public and scientific interest in lupus research.

January 2000: Purchase of New York Jets

In January 2000, Woody Johnson purchased the New York Jets from the estate of Leon Hess for $635 million, which was the third-highest price ever paid for a professional sports team at the time.

2000: Johnson Donates to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation

As of 2000, Woody Johnson had donated $12 million to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, where he served as chairman.

2000: Political Donations

By the year 2000, Woody Johnson had given more than $1 million to various Republican candidates and committees.

2000: Purchase of the New York Jets

In 2000, Robert Wood Johnson IV purchased the New York Jets for $635 million, in partnership with his brother, Christopher Johnson.

2001: Johnson Divorces Nancy Sale Johnson

In 2001, Woody Johnson and Nancy Sale Johnson divorced after having been married since 1977 and having three children together.

2001: Partnership with the Public Schools Athletic League

In 2001, under Woody Johnson's leadership, the New York Jets partnered with the Public Schools Athletic League.

2002: Johnson Lobbies Congress for Diabetes Research Funding

In 2002, Woody Johnson, then a chairman on the Council on Foreign Relations, successfully lobbied Congress to approve a five-year, $750 million package for funding diabetes research.

2006: IRS Settlement

In 2006, Woody Johnson settled with the IRS, agreeing to pay owed taxes plus interest, after a Senate subcommittee report highlighted his purchase of capital gain losses to reduce income tax bills.

May 2008: Fundraiser for John McCain

In May 2008, Woody Johnson orchestrated a fundraiser in New York City that brought in $7 million in a single evening for John McCain's presidential campaign.

2009: Johnson Marries Suzanne Ircha

In 2009, Woody Johnson married Suzanne Ircha, a former actress and equities managing director at Sandler O'Neill & Partners. They have two children.

January 4, 2010: Death of Casey Johnson

On January 4, 2010, Casey Johnson, daughter of Woody Johnson, died of diabetic ketoacidosis.

April 10, 2010: Opening of MetLife Stadium

On April 10, 2010, the Meadowlands Stadium, later named MetLife Stadium, officially opened. The New York Jets share the stadium as an equal partner with the New York Giants.

2010: Death of Casey Johnson

In early 2010, Woody Johnson's daughter, Casey Johnson, died of diabetic ketoacidosis. Following this, Johnson started the Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was found to have lupus.

2011: Endorsement of Mitt Romney

In 2011, Woody Johnson endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries.

October 24, 2012: Johnson Urges Congress to Fund Diabetes Research

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 2012 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: Johnson Sells Manhattan Apartment

In 2014, Woody Johnson sold his two-floor duplex apartment at 834 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to billionaire 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's Campaign

In June 2015, Woody Johnson was named the national finance chairman for Jeb Bush's presidential campaign.

2015: Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Award

In 2015, Woody Johnson received the Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Award for NFL owners who engage in philanthropy.

May 2016: Endorsement of Donald Trump for President

In May 2016, after Donald Trump became the presumptive nominee, Woody Johnson endorsed Trump for president and was named one of the RNC's six finance vice chairmen.

2016: Support for Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign

In 2016, Woody Johnson, a long-time Republican Party donor, supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign, leading to his subsequent appointment as the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

January 19, 2017: Nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Announced

On January 19, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Woody Johnson to become the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

June 22, 2017: Nomination for Ambassador Position

On June 22, 2017, Donald Trump formally nominated Woody Johnson for the position of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

August 3, 2017: Confirmation by U.S. Senate

Following a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Woody Johnson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017, by voice vote as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

August 21, 2017: Swearing-In Ceremony

On August 21, 2017, Woody Johnson was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom by Vice President Mike Pence in the Oval Office.

November 8, 2017: Presentation of Credentials to Queen Elizabeth II

On November 8, 2017, Woody Johnson presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II.

2017: Appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom

In 2017, Robert Wood Johnson IV was appointed as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

2017: Financial Disclosure Form

In 2017, Woody Johnson's financial disclosure form listed his net worth at $4.2 billion, with most of his wealth tied to his ownership of the Jets and its stadium; he also reported owning at least 1.56 million J&J shares.

2017: Christopher Johnson Takes Over Jets Operations

In 2017, upon Woody Johnson's appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, his brother, Christopher Johnson, assumed the roles of CEO and acting owner of the Jets.

February 2018: Johnson Seeks 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, raising the idea with the Secretary of State for Scotland. This action was taken at the request of Donald Trump.

2018: Johnson Discusses Diabetes Research at University of Birmingham

In 2018, Woody Johnson visited the University of Birmingham to discuss the university's diabetes research and research library.

2018: Relocation of United States Embassy in London

In 2018, under Woody Johnson's oversight, the United States Embassy in London was relocated from Grosvenor Square to a new location in Nine Elms.

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 British Parliament rejected Theresa May's Brexit plan.

March 2019: Advocacy for US-UK Agricultural Trade

In March 2019, Woody Johnson wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph saying that chlorinated chicken was a "public safety no-brainer" and that health fears over hormone-fed beef were "myths".

June 2019: Statement on Post-Brexit 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 Presidential Campaigns and Inaugural Committee

By August 2019, Woody Johnson had donated $1.5 million to Donald Trump's presidential campaigns and inaugural committee.

2019: Johnson advises 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, after then Prime Minister Theresa May had approved the company. Johnson stated that Huawei could represent an economic and security risk.

January 2020: Statement on US Interest in NHS

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 gave $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 gave $1 million to America First Action, Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC.

July 2020: State Department Investigates Johnson for Inappropriate Comments

In July 2020, the State Department investigated allegations that Woody Johnson made inappropriate comments about race, personal appearance, and Black History Month, based on accusations from current and former staff members.

August 2020: Inspector General Report Halted

In August 2020, Lewis Lukens stated that the inspector general's report regarding Johnson's promotion of the president's personal business interests had halted without a public report being issued, which he considered unusual.

August 2020: Inspector General Report on Johnson's Inappropriate Comments

In August 2020, the inspector general issued a report stating that Woody Johnson "sometimes made inappropriate or insensitive comments on topics generally considered Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)-sensitive" that could "create an offensive working environment" and violate EEO laws.

2020: Death of Betty Johnson (née Wold)

In 2020, Betty Johnson (née Wold), Woody Johnson's mother, passed away.

2020: Johnson welcomes Britain's Huawei ban

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: Johnson Resides in Palm Beach

Since 2020, Woody Johnson has resided in Palm Beach, Florida.

January 8, 2021: Condemnation of the 2021 United States Capitol Attack

On January 8, 2021, Woody Johnson released a statement condemning the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

2021: End of Ambassadorship

In 2021, Robert Wood Johnson IV's tenure as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom concluded.

2021: Resumption of Role as Jets Chairman

In 2021, after returning to New York, Woody Johnson resumed his role as chairman of the New York Jets.

2021: Woody Johnson Resumes Chairman Position

In 2021, after returning to the United States, Woody Johnson resumed his position as chairman of the Jets, with Christopher Johnson becoming vice-chairman.

March 2022: Bid to Purchase Chelsea

In March 2022, Woody Johnson made a £2 billion bid to purchase the London football club Chelsea from sanctioned billionaire Roman Abramovich, but 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, including Plast Scouting USA and United24.

2022: Johnson Organizes Aid for Ukraine

During the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Woody Johnson and his wife Suzanne organized aid efforts for Ukraine, visiting Poland and urging the United States and the United Kingdom to provide aid.

2022: Bid for Chelsea

In 2022, Woody Johnson made a £2 billion bid for Chelsea but withdrew from the bidding process later that month.

January 2023: Need for a Strong Quarterback Expressed

In January 2023, Woody Johnson expressed the New York Jets' need for a strong quarterback to complement their defense, considering it the "missing piece".

April 24, 2023: Trade Deal Finalization with Green Bay Packers for Aaron Rodgers

On April 24, 2023, it was reported that the Jets were finalizing a trade deal with the Green Bay Packers for Aaron Rodgers.

2023: Donation to Super PAC Backing Trump's Campaign

In 2023, Woody Johnson gave at least $1 million to a super PAC backing Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

2023: Pursuit of Aaron Rodgers

In 2023, Woody Johnson pursued Aaron Rodgers, with the Jets finalizing a trade with the Green Bay Packers in April.

2023: LRA Partners with FDA

In 2023, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) partnered with the FDA to establish the Lupus Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium, which works to improve the efficacy of clinical trials for lupus treatments.

April 2024: Bloomberg Billionaires Index

As of April 2024, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index placed Woody Johnson's net worth at an estimated $9.92 billion.

2024: Forbes Estimate of Jets Value

As of December 2024, Forbes estimated the value of the New York Jets at $6.9 billion.

2024: Firing of Robert Saleh

During the 2024 season, Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh, who finished with a 20-36 record and without a winning season.

2024: Support at Election-Night Rally

In 2024, Woody Johnson stood behind Donald Trump at an election-night rally during the South Carolina primary.

January 2025: Hiring of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey

In January 2025, Woody Johnson hired Aaron Glenn as the team's new head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, expressing his desire to play a less active role in the team's day-to-day management.

June 2025: Agreement to Buy Stake in Crystal Palace

In June 2025, Woody Johnson agreed to buy a 45% share from John Textor in Crystal Palace, another London club, which would make him the largest shareholder in the club.

2025: Playoff Drought

As of 2025, the New York Jets had the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, with one season above .500.

2025: Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Funding of White House East Wing Demolition

In 2025, the family's Betty Wold Johnson Foundation was one of the donors who funded the White House's East Wing demolition, and planned building of a ballroom.

2025: Purchase of stake in Crystal Palace

In July of 2025, Woody Johnson completed the purchase of a 43% stake in Crystal Palace from Eagle Football Holdings, becoming a partner and director of the club.