Willis Johnson
Willis J. Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947 near Siloam Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Copart |
Willis J. Johnson (born 1947) is a prominent American billionaire entrepreneur and the founder of Copart, a company specializing in vehicle salvage and auctions, which he established in 1982. He led Copart as its CEO until his retirement in 2010.
Biography
Johnson was born near Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 1947 and spent his early years on a dairy farm before completing high school in California. After serving one year in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Purple Heart, he acquired a junkyard in Sacramento, California in 1972, moving his family into a trailer to support the purchase financially. Johnson took Copart public in 1994 and introduced an online bidding system for salvage vehicles between 1998 and 2002.
After stepping down as CEO, Johnson relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. In 2015, he co-established Takl, an app designed for on-demand household tasks, which has since been discontinued.
Politically, Johnson aligns with conservative values and is a supporter of the Republican Party. Since 2001, he has donated over $1.5 million to conservative initiatives.
In 2019, Johnson contributed $50,000 to the Trump Victory Committee, a political action committee. Alongside his wife, he gave a combined $700,000 toward Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.
In 2021, he provided $1 million to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to assist with funding for a National Guard mission at the Texas-Mexico border.
Assets
In 2010, Johnson acquired an 18,600-square-foot residence in Nashville for $28 million from country music artist Alan Jackson.
He is also the proprietor of a 79-acre vineyard located in Suisun Valley, California.
Publications
Personal life
Johnson married his wife Joyce after returning from military service in Vietnam. He practices Christianity.
The family resides in Franklin, Tennessee. Johnson is an avid collector of classic automobiles, including a notable 1955 Chevrolet.
His son-in-law, Jay Adair, holds the position of CEO at Copart and possesses shares valued at over $800 million.
Additionally, his grandson, State Representative Jake McCalmon, serves as a Republican member of the Tennessee General Assembly representing Williamson County.