American businessman and billionaire Woody Johnson has purchased a minority stake in Formula 1 team Aston Martin Aramco and joined its board of directors as vice chairman.
The team announced the investment on its website, though the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sports business publication Sportico estimated the valuation of Aston Martin at around $3 billion in 2025.
Johnson is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire with an estimated fortune of $11 billion. He has owned the New York Jets American football franchise since 2000, when he bought the team for $635 million. Despite missing the National Football League playoffs since the 2010 season, the Jets franchise is currently valued at $10.35 billion by Sportico.
A long-time personal friend, major donor and political ally of Donald Trump, Johnson served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021 during Trump's first presidential term.
Commercial Role in North America
Aston Martin said in a statement that Johnson brings extensive experience in sports franchise investment alongside a broad network of influential contacts. In addition to his NFL ownership, Johnson holds a minority stake in English Premier League football club Crystal Palace.
The team said the partnership is expected to open new commercial opportunities across the global sports market. Johnson's main focus will be driving commercial growth for Aston Martin in the US market, while operational management will remain under executive chairman and controlling shareholder Lawrence Stroll.
Team History and Leadership
The Formula 1 outfit traces its origins back to Jordan Grand Prix, which entered the sport in 1991. The team went through several ownership changes and rebrandings before adopting the Aston Martin name in 2021.
Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll became a key shareholder in the Aston Martin luxury car manufacturer in 2020 after leading an investor group to rescue the company following an unsuccessful initial public offering. As part of that deal, Stroll took over as executive director of the carmaker, and his Racing Point Formula 1 squad was rebranded as Aston Martin F1.
The team currently fields two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso alongside driver Lance Stroll, who is the son of controlling owner Lawrence Stroll.
