Johnny Morris (businessman)
Johnny Morris | |
---|---|
Born | 1948 (age 72–73) |
Education | Drury University |
Occupation | Founder, majority owner, and CEO, Bass Pro Shops |
Spouse(s) | Jeanie |
Children | 4 |
John L. Morris (born 1948) is an American billionaire businessman, and the founder, majority owner, and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, a hunting and fishing retail chain in the US and Canada.[1] As of September 2021, his net worth was estimated at US$7.1 billion.[2]
Early life[]
John Morris was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1948.[3] Morris was educated at Drury University.[2]
Career[]
Morris founded Bass Pro Shops in 1972 when he began selling fishing equipment in the back of one of his father's Brown Derby liquor stores in Springfield.[4][5] According to Forbes, Morris has a net worth of $4.1 billion.[2] Morris is also the founder of the White River Marine Group.[2]
Morris opened the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, in 2017.[2] The museum helps bring visitors to Bass Pro's store there, with which it shares a location.[6][7] In September 2017, Bass Pro acquired Cabela’s, another retailer of outdoor merchandise, for $4 billion.[8]
Morris and his family were presented with the Audubon Medal in February 2019, in recognition of their conservation efforts.[9]
Morris also founded Top of the Rock in Branson, Missouri, which houses one of the largest collection of Native American arrowheads and art in the region.[10] Top of the Rock experienced a 70-foot wide sinkhole on May 22, 2016.[11]
Personal life[]
He is married, with four children, and lives in Springfield, Missouri.[2]
References[]
- ^ "All Bass Pro Shops Locations - Sporting Goods & Outdoor Stores". stores.basspro.com. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Forbes profile: John Morris". Forbes. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "IGFA - Johnny Morris". www.igfa.org. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ Moise, Imani (2016-10-03). "Meet the Billionaire Behind the New Bass Pro/Cabela's Empire". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ "Bass Pro Billionaire Building Megastores With Boats, Guns". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ The Commercial Appeal, Bass Pro’s heir apparent saw potential in Pyramid, Memphis, July 09, 2016
- ^ USA TODAY, The best new attraction of 2017 is a celebration of conservationism, JANUARY 26, 2018
- ^ Hallie Detrick (September 26, 2017). "Bass Pro Just Completed a $4 Billion Deal to Buy Cabela's". fortune.com.
- ^ National Audubon Society (2018-10-12). "The National Audubon Society to Honor Johnny Morris". www.audubon.org.
- ^ "About Top of the Rock | Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo". Big Cedar Lodge. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ Johnson, Wes. "Drone footage shows 100-foot-deep sinkhole". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- 1948 births
- Living people
- American businesspeople
- American billionaires
- Drury University alumni
- People from Springfield, Missouri