Barbara Piasecka Johnson
Encyclopedia
Barbara "Basia" Piasecka Johnson (born as Barbara Piasecka on February 25, 1937 in Poland
) is a humanitarian, philanthropist
, art connoisseur and collector.
. Her father was a farmer. She graduated from Wroclaw University
with a M.A. in Art History. She left Poland in 1968, with just $100.
. Her cooking was terrible though, so she switched jobs with the Johnsons' chambermaid.
A year later, Piasecka Johnson was a curator for Seward Johnson's art collection.
's thirty-two year marriage, he engaged in extramarital affairs with Piasecka Johnson. In 1971, they married with none of Johnson's children in attendance. According to witnesses brought to court by Johnson's children during the proceedings concerning his will, Piasecka Johnson often physically and emotionally abused her husband. She was the primary beneficiary of his will and received the bulk of her husband's fortune after he died in 1983. Excluded from their father's will, Seward Johnson's six children sued on grounds that their father wasn't mentally competent at the time he signed the will. The case went to trial but was settled prior to return of a verdict, and the children were granted about 12% of the fortune, leaving Piasecka Johnson in control of the majority of the estate.
In 2007, Johnson was listed on the Forbes 400
World's Richest People list with an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion, making her the 149th richest person. She converted the family estate in Princeton, New Jersey
, named Jasna Polana, into a country club
and moved to Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Johnson is involved in a number of charitable projects, especially in her native Poland.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) is a humanitarian, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, art connoisseur and collector.
Early life
Piasecka Johnson was born in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Her father was a farmer. She graduated from Wroclaw University
Wroclaw University
The University of Wrocław is one of nine universities in Wrocław, Poland. Former, German university was founded in 1702 as Leopoldina, and re-founded in 1811 as Schlesische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Breslau...
with a M.A. in Art History. She left Poland in 1968, with just $100.
Career
Piasecka Johnson was hired as a cook by Esther Underwood Johnson, then wife of John Seward Johnson IJohn Seward Johnson I
John Seward Johnson I was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I . He was also known as J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Seward Johnson...
. Her cooking was terrible though, so she switched jobs with the Johnsons' chambermaid.
A year later, Piasecka Johnson was a curator for Seward Johnson's art collection.
Personal life
During J. Seward JohnsonJohn Seward Johnson I
John Seward Johnson I was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I . He was also known as J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Seward Johnson...
's thirty-two year marriage, he engaged in extramarital affairs with Piasecka Johnson. In 1971, they married with none of Johnson's children in attendance. According to witnesses brought to court by Johnson's children during the proceedings concerning his will, Piasecka Johnson often physically and emotionally abused her husband. She was the primary beneficiary of his will and received the bulk of her husband's fortune after he died in 1983. Excluded from their father's will, Seward Johnson's six children sued on grounds that their father wasn't mentally competent at the time he signed the will. The case went to trial but was settled prior to return of a verdict, and the children were granted about 12% of the fortune, leaving Piasecka Johnson in control of the majority of the estate.
In 2007, Johnson was listed on the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
World's Richest People list with an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion, making her the 149th richest person. She converted the family estate in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, named Jasna Polana, into a country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
and moved to Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Johnson is involved in a number of charitable projects, especially in her native Poland.
See also
- Johnson v. Johnson (1988, ISBN 0440200415)
- Undue Influence: The Epic Battle for the Johnson & Johnson Fortune (1993, ISBN 0688064256)