John H. Tyson | |
---|---|
Born | John H. Tyson September 5, 1953
Springdale, Arkansas, U.S. |
Education |
Springdale High School Southern Methodist University |
Occupation | Businessman |
Title | Chairman, Tyson Foods |
Children | 2, including John R. |
Parent(s) |
Donald J. Tyson Jean Tyson |
Relatives |
John W. Tyson (Grandfather) |
John Tyson (born September 5, 1953) is an American billionaire heir and businessman. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] He was chief executive officer (CEO) of the family business, Tyson Foods ( NYSE: TSN), from 2000 to 2006, and has been chairman since 1998. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Tyson was born on September 5, 1953, in Springdale, Arkansas. [3] His grandfather was John W. Tyson, the founder of Tyson Foods. [3] [7] His father, Don Tyson, was CEO of the family business. [3] [7] His mother was Jean Tyson. [3] He graduated from Springdale High School in 1971. [3] [5] He attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was initiated into the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in 1972. [3] He then transferred to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. [5] Finally, he transferred to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he received a bachelor of business administration degree. [2] [3] [5] He attended the University of Arkansas School of Law for a year, but dropped out, deciding that becoming a lawyer was not for him. [5]
He worked at the family business, Tyson Foods, since his teenage years. [3] In 1984, he joined the board of directors. [3] In 1990, he served as vice chairman and in 1993, as president of the beef and pork division. [5] He was CEO from 1999 to 2006. [2] Since 1998, he has been chairman. [2] [3] Under his leadership as chairman and CEO, Tyson Foods acquired IBP, Inc., becoming the world's largest protein-processing company. [3] [5] Under his leadership as Chairman, Tyson acquired Hillshire Brands for $63 per share, making the merger the largest deal within the meat industry. [8]
He is a member of the board of directors of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. [9]
He is the founder of the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. [10]
He is an Episcopalian. [4] He collects art, and owns paintings by Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. [5] He married in 1987 and divorced in 1998. [5] He lives in Johnson, Arkansas. [11] He fathered two children John Randal and Olivia Laine.