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In the world today
Willis Johnson

Willis Johnson

W. Johnson
-0.86% | - $-18.95M
$2.19 B ₹ 19,925 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1898 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Willis Johnson

Gender

Male

Age

79Y

Country

United States

Born On

February, 1947

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

3

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Auto Auctions)

Primary Organization

Copart

Titles

Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

Copart

Industry

Automotive, Auctions, E-Commerce, Technology

About Willis Johnson


W illis Johnson is a self-made American billionaire who built his fortune by founding Copart, a global leader in online vehicle auctions. His is a classic rags-to-riches story. After returning from service as a Vietnam War veteran, he started his business career by buying a single auto scrap yard in California in 1982. He gradually acquired more salvage yards and pioneered the use of a live, online auction platform to sell damaged and salvage vehicles to a global network of buyers, such as dismantlers, rebuilders, and used car dealers.

This innovative use of technology transformed the salvage auto auction industry, and he built Copart into a massive, publicly traded company with operations in numerous countries. He served as the company's longtime CEO for decades, overseeing its incredible growth, before stepping back from the role. His vast fortune is derived from his large stake in the company he founded from a single scrap yard. He is also the author of a book, "Junk to Gold," which chronicles his entrepreneurial journey.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder of Copart, a global leader in online vehicle auctions.
  • A self-made billionaire, he started with a single auto salvage yard in 1982.
  • He is a Vietnam War veteran.
  • Pioneered the use of online auctions for salvage vehicles.
  • His fortune is from his large stake in the publicly traded company he founded.

Early Life and Background


Willis J. Johnson is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former Executive Chairman of Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRT), the dominant global online vehicle auction and remarketing company. His career is rooted in automotive retail, logistics, and technological disruption.

Johnson holds a B.A. from California State University, Chico. His philosophical approach centers on scale, disruption (pioneering the online vehicle auction model), and long-term commitment to logistics efficiency (leveraging technology for high-volume sales). He founded Copart in 1982, recognizing the immense, untapped domestic and international demand for salvage vehicle remarketing.

  • Copart, Inc. (Founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in online vehicle auctions (specializing in salvage, insurance, and fleet vehicles).
  • Logistics Pioneer: His success is built on scale logistics and dominating the global market for vehicle remarketing services.
  • Academic Background: He holds a B.A. from California State University, Chico.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in logistics infrastructure and technology and leveraging the massive global insurance and automotive markets.

Career Journey of Willis Johnson


Willis Johnson's strategic genius was his commitment to the digital platform. He founded Copart in 1982, successfully building it into a global force by pioneering the online vehicle auction model (moving sales from physical auctions to the internet). His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern digital vehicle remarketing ecosystem that transformed the insurance and automotive industries. The company successfully executed its IPO on the NASDAQ.

He retired from the executive board (remaining a major shareholder). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global logistics, automotive, and technology sectors.

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Willis Johnson's Timeline


1982:

Founds Copart, Inc. (Founding).

1994:

Copart executes its successful IPO on the NASDAQ (Financial Milestone).

2000s:

Copart achieves dominance in online vehicle remarketing (Technology Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and major shareholder, guiding the global logistics giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Willis Johnson's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and retained stake in the publicly traded technology giant, Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRT), and his private investments.

  • Copart, Inc. (Founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in online vehicle auctions.
  • Logistics Pioneer: His success is built on scale logistics and dominating the global market for vehicle remarketing services.
  • Academic Background: He holds a B.A. from California State University, Chico.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in logistics infrastructure and technology and leveraging the massive global insurance and automotive markets.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Willis Johnson's social impact stems from Copart's role in providing essential logistical services for the global insurance and automotive industries. The company's technology facilitates the efficient recovery and remarketing of millions of salvage vehicles. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, often focused on veteran causes and education.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Willis Johnson maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global logistics sector.

Residing in Dallas, Texas, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, strategic investment, and technology innovation.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and Former Chairman of Copart (online vehicle auctions).
  • Copart pioneered the online vehicle auction model for the insurance industry.
  • He holds a B.A. from California State University, Chico.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization and scale of technology in the vehicle remarketing sector.
  • He is known for maintaining a private profile despite his company's public status.
  • His philosophy emphasizes long-term investment in logistics and technology.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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