Charles B. Johnson
Charles Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 6, 1933 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Known for | CEO of Franklin Templeton Investments (1957–2004), principal owner of the San Francisco Giants |
Charles Bartlett Johnson (born January 6, 1933) is an American billionaire entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of approximately $6.1 billion. He held the position of CEO at Franklin Templeton Investments from 1957 until 2004. Johnson is recognized as a prominent Republican donor and is the principal owner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
Early life
Johnson was born in 1933 in Montclair, New Jersey and was raised by his mother following his parents' separation. His father’s subsequent marriage resulted in the birth of Rupert Jr., who would later become his business associate.
After completing his education at Montclair High School, Johnson graduated from Yale College in 1954, where he was both a football player and a scholarship recipient. He participated in ROTC and served as a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed in Germany.
Career
Together with his brother, Rupert Johnson Jr., Charles worked at Franklin Resources, a mutual fund firm established by their father, Rupert Sr., in 1947. At just 24 years old, Johnson assumed the role of CEO in 1957 and maintained leadership for 56 years. He oversaw the company’s public offering in 1971. Following strategic discussions with Sir John Templeton in 1991, Franklin Resources acquired Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger Ltd. for $913 million in 1992, leading to the rebranding as Franklin Templeton Investments and broadening its mutual fund portfolio. Johnson relinquished the chairman role in June 2013, passing it to his son Greg Johnson. His daughter Jennifer took over as CEO in 2019.
Johnson is the majority stakeholder of the San Francisco Giants, owning a 26% share of the Major League Baseball franchise. He obtained this interest in 1992 alongside partners Peter Magowan and Larry Baer. While Johnson does not engage in daily management, Baer functions as President and CEO, with Greg Johnson serving as chairman.
Donations to Yale University and other philanthropy
As a significant Yale benefactor, Johnson has funded various athletic and student facility projects. The field hockey venue named Johnson Field opened in 2001 due to his support. In 2005, he was the lead contributor to renovations of the Yale Bowl stadium. His philanthropy also extends to academic programs such as the Johnson Center for the Study of American Diplomacy and the Brady–Johnson Program in Grand Strategy.
In September 2013, Johnson made a landmark $250 million donation toward building two new residential colleges costing $400 million—the largest single gift Yale has received in nominal terms. One college was named Benjamin Franklin College.
Political donations
Johnson is a substantial contributor to Republican and Tea Party-affiliated campaigns. From 2000 through mid-2015, he donated over $900,000 to politicians including Mitt Romney, John Boehner, and Ben Quayle. In 2015, he contributed $1 million to a super PAC supporting Jeb Bush's presidential campaign. Between 2017 and 2018, he and his wife gave more than $4.58 million to Republican causes.
In 2018, both donated $2,700 each to Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith during controversy over her remarks; though Johnson condemned her statements, he continued to support her candidacy. That year, he also contributed $1,000 to Black Americans for the President's Agenda super PAC but publicly denounced a racist advertisement it released.
The couple collectively donated $700,000 to Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Johnson also supported Lauren Boebert’s campaign, which attracted criticism following her conduct during the January 6 Capitol events. Beyond Boebert, he backed at least eleven other Republican congressional candidates such as Tommy Tuberville, Tom Cotton, and Kelly Loeffler. After facing scrutiny regarding these contributions, Johnson committed to refunding some donations and emphasized a dedication to national unity; nonetheless, he later gave $5,000 to a right-wing extremist political action committee.
During the 2022 election cycle, Johnson supported multiple Republican candidates including far-right conspiracy advocate John Gibbs and election denialists like Herschel Walker—providing $100,000 to a super PAC backing Walker alongside direct campaign contributions. He also backed other candidates rejecting the legitimacy of the 2020 election or promoting unfounded conspiracy theories such as Adam Laxalt, Ron Johnson, Lauren Boebert, and Scott Perry.
Personal life
Johnson lives in Palm Beach, Florida. He and his wife, Ann, have six children. Their son, Greg Johnson, holds the position of executive chairman at Franklin Resources, while their daughter, Jennifer M. Johnson, serves as the company's CEO.
Recognized for maintaining a private lifestyle, Johnson seldom participates in interviews.
In 2009, Johnson and his spouse acquired the historic Carolands Chateau located in Hillsborough, California for $26 million. By 2023, the property's valuation had increased to $130 million. They transferred ownership of the estate to their private entity, the "Carolands Foundation," in 2012 and applied for tax-exempt status, indicating intentions to offer public tours on weekdays. This approach resulted in tax savings exceeding $38 million over a five-year period. Nevertheless, the mansion was accessible only through limited guided tours for a select group of visitors, prompting scrutiny from tax and legal professionals regarding both the appraisal's accuracy and the legitimacy of the tax-exempt designation.