Willis Johnson

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Willis Johnson
Born
Willis J. Johnson

1947 (age 74–75)
Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Joyce Johnson
RelativesJay Adair (son-in-law)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsPurple Heart

Willis J. Johnson (born 1947) is an American billionaire businessman.[2] He is the founder and former chief executive of Copart, a vehicle salvage and auction company, founded in 1982.[3][4]

Early life and career[]

Born in 1947, Johnson received his early education from a high school in California.[2] Johnson then joined the Army and served a year-long tour in Vietnam which earned him a Purple Heart.[2]

Johnson is politically conservative and supports the Republican Party.[2] Since 2001, he has contributed at least $1.5 million to different conservative causes.[2]

In 2015, he co-founded now defunct on-demand household chore app, Takl.[5]

In 2019, he contributed $50,000 to the 'Trump Victory', a political action committee.[2]

In 2021, he donated $1 million to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to fund a National Guard deployment to the Texas/Mexico border.[6][7]

Assets[]

In 2010, he bought an 18,600 square foot mansion in Nashville for $28 million from American country singer Alan Jackson.[8]

Johnson also owns a 79-acre vineyard in Suisun Valley, California.[8]

Personal life[]

Johnson is married to Joyce, whom he married after returning from the Vietnam War.[5] Johnson is a practising Christian.[5]

His son-in-law, Jay Adair, is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Copart, and owns shares in the company worth more than $800 million.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Forbes profile: WIllis Johnson". Forbes. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Vickers, Emma. "This man is a junkyard billionaire". Bloomberg.
  3. ^ Dellaverson, Carlo (April 23, 2008). "On the Line: Copart CEO Willis Johnson". CNBC.
  4. ^ "Turning rust into gold". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  5. ^ a b c McGee, Jamie. "Franklin businessman shifts to on-demand tech with Takl". The Tennessean.
  6. ^ "Pentagon, National Guard Silent on Whether Troops Are for Hire After GOP Billionaire Funds Border Mission". Steve Beynon. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Billionaire GOP Donor Bankrolls National Guard Border Deployment". WJ Hennigan. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Country star's palace sells for $28M". Nashville Post.


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