Jim Kennedy Net Worth, Biography and Career

Jim Kennedy Net Worth $8 Billion

This article is about the life and success story of Jim Kennedy, an intelligent businessman who is considered to be one of the most successful investors of his era. Mr. Kennedy is best-recognized for being the chairman emeritus and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation.

His grandfather, former US presidential candidate, and Ohio Governor, James M. Cox, was the genius who founded the highly-reputed media company in 1898. Kennedy joined Cox in 1972 starting with its newspaper division as a production assistant and held various positions, including advertising salesman, reporter, copy editor, business manager, general manager, and executive vice president.

In 1988, he was installed as the chief executive officer and chairman of Cox Enterprises. During his tenure, Cox Enterprises has grown and diversified, and its annual revenues have skyrocketed from $1.88 billion to $20 billion.

Chairman Kennedy who attended the University of Denver and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration was inducted into J. Mack Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame (at Georgia State University) in 2004 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kennesaw State University in 2003 and from Colorado State University in 2018.

He frequently appears on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of the Most Influential Atlantans and Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Georgians list. To also include, Mr. Kennedy is an inductee of the Georgia Trend Hall of Fame (2020) and The Technology Association of Georgia’s Technology Hall of Fame (2016).

He was pivotal in Atlanta’s successful bid to host the Olympic Games in the year 1996 and has served on the Atlanta Committee for Progress. Furthermore, Kennedy and his wife Sarah are respected philanthropists who support several focus areas, including healthcare, education, and sustainability, and together they were previously honored by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals as “Philanthropists of the Year” for their contributions to the community.

Early Life: Childhood, Education

James “Jim” Cox Kennedy is the son of airline executive Stanley C. Kennedy Jr. and his spouse, Barbara Cox Anthony. He was born on 29 November 1947, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His maternal grandfather was the newspaper publisher and broadcaster James M. Cox, who was also the 46th and 48th governor of Ohio State.

For his education, James attended the University of Denver when he was done with high school. He completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the university in 1970. He also holds honorary doctorates which he received from Kennesaw State University and Colorado State University.

Professional Life: Business Career

Two years after his graduation from the University of Denver, Kennedy joined Cox Enterprises to mark the start of his profession as a businessman. Starting in 1972, he worked in a variety of media roles at the newspaper company (Cox Newspapers) in Atlanta, serving as an advertising salesman, business manager, reporter, production assistant, copy editor, and executive vice president/general manager.

In 1979, he was appointed the president of Grand Junction Newspapers, Inc. and was soon named editor of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

Achievements: Awards, Recognition

James Cox Kennedy has been inducted into J. Mack Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame (at Georgia State University), the Georgia Trend Hall of Fame, and The Technology Association of Georgia’s Technology Hall of Fame.

He has been featured on numerous occasions on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of the Most Influential Atlantans and Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Georgians list.

For his philanthropy, Mr. Kennedy was recognized by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals as Philanthropist of the Year for his noteworthy contributions.

In 2014, the Wetlands America Trust awarded him the National Blue-winged Teal Award for giving his talent, time, and treasure to conserve natural resources.

Personal Life: Wife, Private Interest, Charity

Mr. James Kennedy and his wife Sarah are very active in philanthropy. In 2008, the businessman donated the sum of 10 million dollars to the University of Denver to establish the James C. Kennedy Institute for Educational Success at the Morgridge College of Education.

In that same year, he also launched the James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation at Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries.

In 2014 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he encouraged Cox staff to participate in “Movember” to advocate for men’s health. The company raised nearly 2 million dollars for the Movember Foundation.

Jim Kennedy Net Worth: Salary, Assets, Income Sources

Mr. Jim Kennedy currently has a net worth of 8 billion dollars, all earned from his profession as a media executive who leads Cox Enterprises as its chairman.

Starting his career in 1972 at the media conglomerate founded by his grandfather, James filled in a variety of media positions and gradually worked his way to the top of the ranks.

He has also occupied other positions outside the company, including serving as a member of Denver University’s Board of Trustees, serving as Chairman of the Colorado Division of Wildlife Commission, and being the president of Wetlands America Trust, Inc.