Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 19, 1961 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | CEO and Chairperson of Fidelity Investments |
Abigail Pierrepont Johnson (born December 19, 1961) is a prominent American billionaire and the chief executive officer of Fidelity Investments. Her family and related entities hold nearly 40% ownership in Fidelity, the company established by her grandfather, Edward C. Johnson II.
Johnson has occupied the roles of president and CEO at Fidelity since 2014,[1] and previously chaired its former affiliate, Fidelity International (FIL).[2] In November 2016, she assumed the position of chairperson while maintaining her responsibilities as CEO and president, thereby consolidating full authority over Fidelity.[3]
As of June 2024, Johnson’s estimated net worth stands at around $35.6 billion according to Bloomberg L.P., and $31.1 billion according to Forbes, ranking her among the wealthiest women globally and as the richest individual in Massachusetts.[4] She is also featured on the "Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and holds a board seat at Breakthrough Energy Ventures.[5]
Early life
Born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 19, 1961, Johnson and her siblings were not compelled to join the family enterprise, although she was naturally interested in her father’s professional endeavors. She attended Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from William Smith College in 1984. Following a consulting role at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she met her spouse, she completed an MBA at Harvard Business School.
Career
Upon graduating from Harvard Business School in 1988, Johnson began her career at Fidelity Investments—founded by her grandfather Edward Johnson II in 1946 and then under the leadership of her father, Edward Johnson III. She initially worked as an analyst and portfolio manager.
In 2001, she was appointed president of Fidelity Asset Management. During this period, she sought to orchestrate a shareholder vote aimed at removing her father from the CEO position due to conflicting views on company strategy. By 2005, she advanced to lead Retail, Workplace, and Institutional Business divisions. She was named president in 2012, elevated to CEO in 2014, and became chairman in 2016.
In 2018, Johnson spearheaded the introduction of cryptocurrency investment products at Fidelity, allowing institutional clients to trade in Bitcoin and Ether. Later that year in November, she took charge of Fidelity Financial Services.
Under her guidance, Fidelity has transitioned its focus from traditional open-ended mutual funds toward expanding financial advisory services, brokerage operations, and venture capital investments.
Personal life
Johnson is married to Christopher J. McKown and they have two daughters. She maintained her professional responsibilities throughout her pregnancies.
In 2002, she acquired a waterfront property on Nantucket Island for $9.72 million. By 2006, she owned an estate located in Milton, Massachusetts, along with an office building situated in London.
Political contributions
In 2015, Johnson contributed the maximum individual amount of $2,700 to Republican Jeb Bush’s presidential primary campaign. The following year, she donated approximately $330,000 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
Awards and honors
Johnson has participated as a member of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation and held board positions with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Notably, she is the sole female board member of the Financial Services Forum.
Forbes has regularly featured Johnson among the globe’s most influential women:
| Forbes: The World's 100 Most Powerful Women | |
|---|---|
| Year | Rank |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 19 |
In 2023, she attained the 13th position on Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women and was honored as the second most influential woman in finance by American Banker in 2024.