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Robert Johnson

Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET); Founder & Chairman of The RLJ Companies; Innovative Business Leader

Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET); Founder & Chairman of The RLJ Companies; Innovative Business Leader

Travels From Travels From:
Bethesda, MD, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
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Robert Johnson Biography

Robert L. Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies, an innovative business network that provides strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of companies in hotel real estate investment; private equity; financial services; asset management; insurance services; automobile dealerships; sports and entertainment; and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming. In July 2007, Johnson was named by USA Today as one of the 25 most influential business leaders of the past 25 years.

Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Mr. Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation’s first and leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news, sports and public affairs programming for the African American audience.

Johnson continues to attract and manage capital and create value for investors, and in 2012, announced the successful creation of RLJ Entertainment, Inc., one of the largest independent global distributors of digital and video content. RLJ Entertainment, Inc. marks the third time Johnson has successfully taken a company public. In 1991, Johnson took BET public making the network the first African American company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

RLJ Lodging Trust, an $8 billion enterprise value hotel real estate investment trust (REIT), went public in 2011.

In 2001, Johnson sold BET to Viacom for approximately $3 billion. In July 2007, Johnson was named, by USA Today, one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years.”

Two of Johnson’s holding companies are ranked among the top Black-owned companies in the country on the Black Enterprise 100s list: RML Automotive, LLC and RLJ Equity Partners, LLC.

Currently, Mr. Johnson serves on the following boards: RLJ Lodging Trust; KB Home; Elevate Credit, Inc.; The Business Council; and Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Mr. Johnson holds a Master’s degree in international affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies from the University of Illinois.

Robert Johnson Videos

  • BET Founder Robert Johnson on creating BET
  • BET Founder Robert Johnson on selling BET to Viacom
  • BET Founder, Bob Johnson, on Building the Company

FAQs on booking Robert Johnson

  • How do I book Robert Johnson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert Johnson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert Johnson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert Johnson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Robert Johnson

    Speaking fees for Robert Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Robert Johnson are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert Johnson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Robert Johnson speak about?

    Robert Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black History, Business, Business Leaders, Diversity Speakers, Economy and Finance, Entertainers, Entertainment, Finance, Leadership Speakers.
  • Where does Robert Johnson travel from?

    Robert Johnson generally travels from Bethesda, MD, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Robert Johnson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Robert Johnson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert Johnson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert Johnson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Robert Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Robert Johnson for your event is available upon request. Robert Johnson generally travels from Bethesda, MD, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Percy "Master P" Miller, Hill Harper and Barry Givens. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Robert Johnson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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