Willis Johnson
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Damaged cars
- Industry
- Automotive
- Residence
- Franklin, Tennessee
- Marital Status
- Married
- Children
- 2
Assets
- Copart54,230,000 shares @ --CPRT-US
Biography
Willis Johnson is the founder of Dallas-based Copart, a leader in online auctions for used and totaled cars; he owns about 6% of the stock.
Johnson founded the company out of a single lot in Vallejo, California in 1982 after several years operating a dismantling yard near Sacramento.
He took the company public in 1994 and expanded across the country; Copart now has more than 200 locations in 11 countries.
Johnson stepped down as CEO in 2010 and handed over the reins to his son-in-law, Jay Adair, who first joined Copart in 1989 at age 19. (Adair stepped down as CEO in 2024 and is now executive chairman.)
Before starting Copart, Johnson worked at a Safeway grocery store and at his father's scrapyard in California.
About
Johnson was drafted into the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service.
Johnson owns a large collection of classic cars at his home outside Nashville, Tennessee; his prized possession is a black 1955 Chevrolet.