Woody Johnson

Robert Wood Johnson IV
Born	(1947-04-12) April 12, 1947 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, diplomat
Known for	Owner and chairman of the New York Jets, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2017–2021)

Robert Wood Johnson IV (born April 12, 1947) is an American entrepreneur, serving as the owner and chairman of the NFL franchise New York Jets. He held the position of United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 through 2021. As a direct descendant of Robert Wood Johnson I and beneficiary of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical legacy, he acquired the Jets in 2000 for $635 million alongside his brother, Christopher Johnson.

A significant contributor to the Republican cause, Johnson backed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race, which preceded his appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the UK. His diplomatic term coincided with pivotal developments like Britain's exit from the EU and the transition of the U.S. embassy in London. During this interval, Christopher oversaw the Jets' daily operations.

Upon his return to New York in 2021, Johnson reassumed control of the Jets. In 2023, he actively sought to acquire quarterback Aaron Rodgers, successfully arranging a trade with the Green Bay Packers. In 2022, he placed a £2 billion bid on Chelsea F.C., though he later withdrew that offer within the same month. By July 2025, Johnson secured a 43% ownership stake in Crystal Palace F.C. from Eagle Football Holdings, becoming both a partner and board director of the club.

Early life and education

Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Johnson is the son of Betty Johnson (née Wold; 1921–2020) and Robert Wood Johnson III. He descends from Robert Wood Johnson I, who co-founded the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company with brothers James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson. Raised alongside four siblings in northern New Jersey, he attended the Millbrook School. Johnson earned his degree from the University of Arizona and spent a summer working at Johnson & Johnson.

The Johnson Company, Inc

Johnson held leadership roles as chairman and CEO at The Johnson Company, Inc., a privately held investment enterprise.

In 2006, a Senate subcommittee report named him among those who engaged in capital loss transactions intended to lower taxable income. He resolved this matter with the IRS by paying back taxes along with accrued interest.

Johnson also served as president of the committee overseeing pre-commissioning activities for the ship USS New York (LPD-21).

New York Jets

In January 2000, Woody Johnson acquired ownership of the New York Jets for $635 million—a figure that ranked as the third-highest for any professional sports team at that time and was then a record for a New York franchise. As of December 2024, Forbes estimated the Jets’ value at $6.9 billion.

Following this purchase, Johnson relocated the team to Meadowlands Stadium—later renamed MetLife Stadium—which opened on April 10, 2010. The venue is jointly shared with the New York Giants.

When appointed U.S. Ambassador to Britain in 2017, Christopher Johnson assumed CEO duties and acted as owner. Upon Woody’s return to America in 2021, he resumed his role as chairman while Christopher transitioned to vice-chairman.

In early 2023, Johnson highlighted acquiring a top-tier quarterback as essential to complementing the Jets’ defense and pursued four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. To facilitate this goal, Nathaniel Hackett was hired as offensive coordinator due to his established relationship with Rodgers. By April that year, negotiations were underway to finalize Rodgers’ trade from Green Bay Packers. Despite these efforts, Johnson has encountered criticism related to team management; as of 2025, the Jets maintain the NFL’s longest ongoing playoff absence and have recorded only one winning season since 2015.

During the 2024 season, head coach Robert Saleh was dismissed after compiling a 20-36 record without any winning campaigns. In January 2025, Johnson appointed Aaron Glenn as head coach and named Darren Mougey general manager. He indicated a desire to reduce his involvement in day-to-day decisions: "I want Aaron Glenn to coach the team and I want the general manager to manage the assets and players."

Under his stewardship, the New York Jets Foundation has championed initiatives supporting youth athletics, military veterans, education programs, and medical research endeavors. The franchise has hosted fundraising events benefiting organizations such as the Lupus Research Alliance, which was founded by Johnson himself. Since 2001, partnerships have been maintained with groups like the Public Schools Athletic League. The Jets also sponsor numerous girls’ flag football leagues across America, Britain, and Ireland. In recognition of his philanthropic contributions among NFL owners, Johnson was honored with the Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Award in 2015.

Additionally, he played a role in selecting a successor for NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Additional sports investments

In March 2022, Johnson submitted a £2 billion offer to acquire London-based football club Chelsea F.C., which was owned by the sanctioned billionaire Roman Abramovich. Having supported the club during his tenure as ambassador in London, Johnson was considered to have an edge over competitors such as the Saudi Media Group due to his familiarity with the city and experience in sports management. Nonetheless, by March 25, he had withdrawn from the bidding process for Chelsea F.C.

By June 2025, Johnson reached an agreement to purchase a 45% stake from John Textor in another London football team, Crystal Palace F.C., thereby becoming the club’s largest shareholder. The transaction was finalized on July 24, 2025, with reports indicating he acquired approximately a 43% ownership interest.

Financial standing

Johnson is recognized as a billionaire and represents the fourth generation of heirs to the Johnson & Johnson family wealth. According to a 2017 financial disclosure, his net worth was estimated at $4.2 billion, primarily derived from ownership of the Jets franchise and its stadium, along with holdings of over 1.56 million shares in J&J valued at upwards of $50 million. As of April 2024, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index assessed his net worth at $9.92 billion.

Political contributions and support

By the year 2000, Johnson had contributed more than $1 million to Republican candidates and political committees, including $130,000 directed to the Republican Party and $22,583 for George W. Bush’s 1998 Texas gubernatorial re-election campaign. He played a significant role as a fundraiser in New York during Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.

In May 2008, Johnson hosted a fundraiser in New York City that generated $7 million for John McCain’s presidential effort—the largest single-event fundraising total for McCain’s struggling campaign. He also made substantial donations to cover a $10 million deficit faced by the host committee for the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2011, Johnson publicly supported Mitt Romney during the 2012 Republican primaries and later hosted a Republican National Committee fundraiser at his residence in New York City in 2013.

By 2016, although acquainted with Donald Trump for approximately three decades, Johnson initially endorsed Jeb Bush in the Republican primary elections and served as Bush’s national finance chairman. Following Trump’s emergence as the presumptive nominee, Johnson shifted his endorsement to Trump and was appointed one of six RNC finance vice chairmen responsible for raising $1 billion for Trump’s campaign.

As of August 2019, Johnson had donated $1.5 million to Trump’s presidential campaigns and inaugural committee. Early in 2020, he contributed $575,000 to Trump’s re-election campaign and an additional $355,000 to the Republican National Committee. Subsequently, he provided $1 million to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC. On January 8, 2021, Johnson publicly condemned the attack on the United States Capitol.

In 2023, Johnson donated at least $1 million to a super PAC backing Trump’s 2024 presidential bid and appeared alongside Trump at an election-night rally held during the South Carolina primary.

Tenure as Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2017–2021)

On January 19, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Johnson as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The formal nomination occurred on June 22, 2017. Although Johnson lacked previous diplomatic experience, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017, through a voice vote. He took the oath of office administered by Vice President Mike Pence on August 21, 2017, and officially presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II on November 8 of that year.

During his ambassadorship in 2018, Johnson oversaw the relocation of the United States Embassy in London from its longstanding location in Grosvenor Square to a new $1 billion complex situated in Nine Elms.

Brexit

Under Johnson's leadership, the United Kingdom formally exited the European Union. He championed the establishment of a bilateral trade agreement between the US and UK following Brexit, aligning with then-President Trump's objectives. In June 2019, Johnson asserted that such an agreement would encompass "all things that are traded," explicitly mentioning sectors like the National Health Service and agriculture. However, by January 2020, he clarified that the US showed no interest in the NHS but remained committed to negotiating a free-trade deal with Britain.

Agriculture

Johnson advocated for enhanced agricultural trade ties between the US and UK, endorsing the relaxation of regulations on American food exports to Britain. In March 2019, he described concerns about chlorinated chicken as a straightforward public safety issue and dismissed worries regarding hormone-treated beef as unfounded. He encouraged the UK to open its markets to US agricultural products after leaving the EU, condemning what he termed a "smear campaign" driven by protectionist groups.

These viewpoints attracted criticism from UK agricultural organizations such as Red Tractor Assurance, whose CEO cautioned that US lobbying posed risks to British food standards. Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union in the UK, acknowledged that chlorine-washed chicken was safe but stressed concerns over animal welfare and environmental impact. She warned that accepting US products produced under differing standards might disadvantage domestic farmers. Conversely, the US National Farmers Union defended American meat production practices as safe and dismissed opposing views as alarmist.

Huawei

Johnson recommended that the UK government exclude Huawei from its 5G network infrastructure following former Prime Minister Theresa May’s initial approval of the company in early 2019. He highlighted both economic and security threats, comparing Huawei’s involvement to "allowing a kleptomaniac to move into your home." After Britain decided in 2020 to bar Huawei from its 5G rollout, Johnson lauded the decision as a victory for human rights and equitable trade.

Allegations of "inappropriate or insensitive comments" to embassy staff

In July 2020, allegations surfaced from current and former embassy personnel accusing Johnson of making inappropriate remarks related to race, physical appearance, and Black History Month. Johnson denied these claims, asserting they contradicted his principles and professional history. Both the State Department and U.S. Embassy in London defended his conduct and dedication to fostering U.S.-UK relations.

An inspector general report released in August 2020 noted that Johnson occasionally made remarks on sensitive subjects such as religion, gender, or race that could be perceived as inappropriate or insensitive, potentially creating a hostile workplace environment and violating Equal Employment Opportunity regulations. The report recommended further examination by the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs alongside the Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR). Following a thorough review, S/OCR found no evidence supporting the allegations and cleared Johnson of any misconduct.

British Open at Trump Turnberry

In February 2018, while serving as ambassador, Johnson attempted to relocate the prestigious British Open golf championship to Trump's Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland, raising this proposal with Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell. Both The New York Times and former U.S. embassy official Lewis Lukens confirmed that Trump had directed Johnson to influence British officials toward securing the Open for Turnberry. Lukens cautioned Johnson that such actions would be unethical and potentially illegal; nonetheless, Johnson pursued the effort without success.

The British government stated there was no formal request from Johnson regarding either the British Open or other events; while Johnson did not deny his involvement, he maintained adherence to ethical guidelines. Trump denied discussing Turnberry with Johnson. Lukens reported his concerns through internal channels but was subsequently removed from his post months before completing his London assignment. This incident triggered an inquiry by the State Department inspector general, which Lukens noted concluded without any public disclosure.

Personal life

In 1977, Johnson wed former model Nancy Sale, with whom he had three children before their separation in 2001. Their daughter Casey passed away in 2010 due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Inspired by his daughter Jaime’s lupus diagnosis, he initiated the Alliance for Lupus Research.

Johnson remarried in 2009 to Suzanne Ircha, a former actress turned equities managing director at Sandler O'Neill & Partners. The couple has two children together. Suzanne’s family emigrated from Ternopil, Ukraine following World War II, and she grew up in a Ukrainian community within Greenwich Village.

He owns residences in both Bedminster Township, New Jersey and Palm Beach, Florida, primarily living in Palm Beach since 2020. In 2014, Johnson sold his Manhattan duplex co-op located at 834 Fifth Avenue to billionaire Leonard Blavatnik for $80 million, marking a record-breaking co-op sale in New York.

Philanthropy

Johnson is widely acknowledged for his considerable philanthropic contributions, especially in the realm of medical research. He has been actively involved in fundraising and advocacy efforts aimed at increasing federal support for lupus and diabetes research. He sits on the board of trustees for the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust and stands as the sole member of the Johnson family invited to serve on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s board.

Diabetes research

Motivated by his daughter Casey’s diabetes diagnosis in 1988, Johnson took on the role of chairman at the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. In 1994, he co-wrote Managing Your Child's Diabetes alongside his wife Nancy and daughter Casey. By the year 2000, he had contributed $12 million to the foundation. As chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, he successfully lobbied Congress in 2002 to approve a five-year funding package amounting to $750 million dedicated to diabetes research.

Following Casey’s death from diabetic ketoacidosis in 2010, Johnson authored an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal in 2012 advocating for sustained congressional funding for the Special Diabetes Program. In 2018, he visited the University of Birmingham to engage with its diabetes research programs and specialized research library.

Lupus research

Johnson founded and chairs the Lupus Research Alliance (formerly known as the Alliance for Lupus Research), an organization committed to advancing diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies for lupus. He launched this initiative in 1999 after his daughter Jaime was diagnosed with lupus, with the goal of increasing awareness and scientific focus on this often-overlooked chronic illness. In 2023, the LRA collaborated with the FDA to establish the Lupus Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium, which aims to improve clinical trial processes for lupus therapies.

Ukraine

Amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Johnson and his wife Suzanne—who has Ukrainian roots—spearheaded humanitarian aid efforts supporting Ukraine. Their family traveled to Poland, a key refuge for displaced Ukrainians, where they visited community centers, shelters, and orphanages. Johnson publicly called on both the US and UK governments to enhance their assistance for Ukraine. In April 2022, the New York Jets pledged $1 million toward Ukrainian relief initiatives, distributing funds through organizations such as Plast Scouting USA and United24.