Lonnie George Johnson was born on 6 October 1949, in Mobile, Alabama USA, and is an engineer and inventor, known for his numerous patents and in particular for inventing the Super Soaker water gun, which has been one of the world’s best-selling toys since its release. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Lonnie Johnson? As of late-2016, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $360 million, earned through the success of his numerous inventions. He’s been creating things since he was young, but also owns several companies. He also had a notable career in the military, and all of these have ensured the position of his wealth.
Lonnie Johnson Net Worth $360 million
Johnson displayed a lot of inventor’s traits when he was a child. He was very curious and innovative. He started reversing engineering items from the house to learn how they worked, and sometimes this was at the expense of his family’s items. He almost burned down the house one time when he was trying to create rocket fuel. Later he would make his own go-cart, using a lawn-mower engine and various scraps. He attended Williamson High School, and while there he would learn about George Washington Carver who would become his inspiration. For the Alabama Science Fair he created a robot named “Linex”, which won him first prize. After matriculating, he would attend Tuskegee University on a math scholarship, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and would continue on to a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.
In 1978 he would become part of the US Air Force, becoming the acting chief of the Space Nuclear Power Safety Section of their weapons laboratory. One of his most notable projects was the stealth bomber program. After a year, he would be promoted to the senior systems engineer of the Galileo project, a mission to Jupiter, on which he worked for almost four years. He then continued through various positions in the 1980s, and in 1987 he became an engineer on the Mariner Mark II Spacecraft series. While a part of the Air Force, he had the idea to develop the Super Soaker, and applied for a patent in 1983.Three years later, the first model of the Super Soaker, called Power Drencher appeared in toy shops, and would eventually achieve $200 million in annual sales the following year. His net worth rose considerably.
In 1991, he would leave the Air Force to create the Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc. One of his other notable projects at this time was helping to develop heat into electricity, making green energy affordable.
He eventually created more companies which focused on several inventions. Excellatron Solid State helped create thin film batteries, improving rechargeable battery technology, and Johnson Electro-Mechanical Systems helped create the Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter System (JTEC) which was one of the top inventions of 2009. The system is mainly used for solar power plants, and other geothermal plants which help convert thermal energy into electricity. Some of his companies’ research laboratories are located in Sweet Auburn, Atlanta.
For his personal life, it is known that Johnson is married to Linda Moore and they have four children. The family reside in Atlanta, Georgia.
