This week our guest will be Jamie Johnson, one of the great-grandsons of the founder of Johnson & Johnson Inc. and an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker.
Johnson received attention when he made a documentary in 2003 called Born Rich which was purchased by HBO. The film was described as "a documentary on children of the insanely rich, directed by one of their own, Johnson & Johnson, Inc., heir Jamie Johnson." It consists primarily of Johnson interviewing his friends and peers about the experience of living life free of financial constraints. These interviews are offset by Johnson's exploration of his own experience and family. Jamie's uncle is screenwriter and novelist Dirk Wittenborn, whom Jamie credits with encouraging him to make a documentary about the experience of wealthy children.
Johnson's newest project, The One Percent, had its world premiere at the TriBeCa Film Festival on April 29, 2006. The 80-minute feature discusses the challenges America faces as a society in which one percent of the people control nearly half the total wealth. The film features Robert Reich, Bill Gates Sr., Milton Friedman, and many others, coming from various socioeconomic strata, including residents of Chicago's infamous Cabrini Green housing project and Hurricane Katrina victims. The film was co-produced by Johnson and Nick Kurzon.
Both Born Rich and The One Percent were promoted on Oprah Winfrey's television show. He was showcased along with Nicole Buffett, adopted granddaughter of billionaire Warren Buffett.
The Wall Street Journal has described Mr. Johnson as "the rich man's Michael Moore -- a trust-fund populist who's not afraid to attack the wealthy and powerful."
Johnson is a graduate of the Pingry School, a prep school located in Martinsville, New Jersey. He attended New York University, where he majored in American History.
Jamie is a regular contributor to Vanity Fair magazine.
The One Percent [Trailer]
Other related links
The Sound of Wealth Inequality