Quick Facts: New York Jets
| Current Owner | Robert “Woody” Johnson |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Owner Since | 2000 |
| Purchase Price | $635 million |
| Family Fortune Source | Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceuticals) |
| Public Service | U.S. Ambassador to the UK, 2017–2021 |
| Team During Ambassadorship | Run by brother Christopher Johnson |
| Home Stadium | MetLife Stadium (shared with the Giants) |
Who Owns the New York Jets?
Woody Johnson has owned the New York Jets since 2000, paying $635 million for the franchise using wealth built from his family’s stake in Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceutical and consumer health giant.
Johnson is a great-grandson of one of Johnson & Johnson’s founders, giving him inherited wealth distinct from the self-made fortunes behind many other NFL ownership groups.
From 2017 to 2021, Johnson stepped back from day-to-day team control to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Trump, during which time his brother Christopher Johnson ran the Jets as acting owner.
Woody Johnson resumed full control of the team after his ambassadorship ended in 2021, returning to the same hands-on ownership role he held before entering government service.
New York Jets Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Franchise founded (as Titans of New York) | Sonny Werblin-led group | Renamed Jets in 1963 |
| 2000–Present | Bought for $635 million | Woody Johnson | Johnson & Johnson family wealth |
| 2017–2021 | Johnson serves as U.S. Ambassador to UK | Christopher Johnson (acting owner) | Brother runs team during ambassadorship |
| 2021–Present | Resumes full ownership control | Woody Johnson | Returns after diplomatic post ends |
About Woody Johnson
Johnson’s wealth traces back to Robert Wood Johnson I, one of the three brothers who founded Johnson & Johnson in 1886, making his fortune fundamentally different in origin from the operating-business wealth behind most NFL ownership groups.
His time as Ambassador to the UK placed him in an unusual dual role — simultaneously a sitting NFL owner and a U.S. diplomatic official — that required navigating team ownership responsibilities from a distance for four years.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Johnson’s wealth is inherited pharmaceutical-industry money, not self-made: a distinct profile among NFL owners, tracing back to Johnson & Johnson’s 1886 founding.
- He held public office while remaining the team’s owner: serving as Ambassador to the UK from 2017 to 2021 while his brother ran the Jets day-to-day.
- Family ownership continuity was maintained during his diplomatic service: rather than selling or bringing in outside management, brother Christopher Johnson stepped in as acting owner.
- The franchise’s original name only lasted one season: founded as the Titans of New York in 1959, renamed the Jets in 1963 after new ownership took over.
- The Jets co-own MetLife Stadium 50/50 with the Giants: the same venue that hosted the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final between Spain and Argentina on July 19, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the New York Jets?
Woody Johnson, who has owned the team since 2000.
How much did Johnson pay for the Jets?
$635 million in 2000.
Who ran the Jets while Woody Johnson was Ambassador to the UK?
His brother, Christopher Johnson, served as acting owner from 2017 to 2021.
What is Woody Johnson’s family wealth connected to?
Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceutical and consumer health company his family co-founded in 1886.
What was the team originally called?
The Titans of New York, before being renamed the Jets in 1963.