What is Van Jones’ net worth?
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Source of Wealth | Lawyer / News Commentator / Author |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1968 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6’2 / 188 cm |
| Place of Birth | Jackson, Tennessee |
| Star Sign | Virgo |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Partner | Jana Carter (div. 2019) |
The Usual Intro
Anthony Kapal Jones (a.k.a. Van Jones) is a lawyer, news commentator, and author. Jones is best known for his non-profit organizations such as Color of Change, The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and many more. In addition, he was a three-time New York Times Bestselling author and hosted many CNN shows. Today, he stands at a net worth of $1 million.
Before the Spotlight
Anthony Kapal Jones was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on September 20, 1968. His father, Willie Anthony Jones, was a middle school principal, while his mother, Loretta Jean, was a high school teacher.
He was raised with his twin sister, Angela Jones, who described him as ‘The Stereotypical Geek’ when he was young due to his introverted qualities of being shy and less talkative, along with reading books. Jones was very religious and would often accompany his grandfather to religious conferences.
Jones graduated in 1986 from Jackson Central-Merry High School. He then enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin), where he completed a bachelor of science degree in communication and political science. Jones later attended Yale Law School for further studies.
After graduating in 1993, Jones moved to San Francisco and co-founded STORM (Stand Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement), a social activist group to protest against police brutality.
The Journey to Success
After finishing his law studies, Jones relocated to San Francisco, where he founded the STORM and started participating in numerous social activist programs.
These programs include Bay Area Police Watch, launched in 1995; a hotline for citizens to report police abuse. The following year, he also introduced the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which works to restore peace and justice in urban America. Under this organization, he started a campaign against officer Marc Andaya who was allegedly involved in several physical cases of abuse and had two lawsuits filed against him. The San Francisco Police commission fired him in 1997.
In 2005, Jones and James Rucker launched a web-based company called Color of Change. It was launched after Hurricane Katrina with the motive of strengthening the political voice of Black Americans.
Later, he widened the scope of his work and included environmental problems and eco-capitalism in his agenda. He did this by launching the “Green For All” project.
Furthermore, Jones was appointed as the Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Jones worked for the social enterprise of “The Dream Corpse.” Under this, he operated many other projects like the #YesWeCode, #Cut50, and Green for All. He has also worked under many non-profit firms such as Free Pass, National Apollo Alliance, and many more.
Over the years, Jones has hosted and produced several CNN shows. His most famous ones are Crossfire, The Redemption Project with Van Jones, and The Messy Truth With Van Jones, for which he also received an Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Original Interactive Program.’
Jones isn’t just a social worker. He is also a three-time New York Times Bestselling Author for writing the books “The Green Collar Economy,” “Rebuild The Dream,” “Beyond The Messy Truth: How We Came Apart,” and “How We Came Together.”
Besides, Jones is the CEO of REFORM Alliance made by rappers Jay-Z and Meek Mill. The purpose of the reform is to change the criminal justice method. The reform was also promoted by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who funded it with a handsome amount of charity.
On July 21, 2021, Jeff Bezos awarded Van Jones $100 million, saying he could do anything he wanted to do with it. While accepting the award, Jones said, “You bet on me, and I appreciate it,” followed by explaining to Jeff Bezos that the money he received is to “give to others who have a similar spirit.”
The Best Moments
- Received $100 million from Jeff Bezos to distribute to non-profit organizations of Jones’s choice.
- In 2020, received Emmy Awards for Outstanding Original Interactive Program.
- Became a three time New York Times Bestselling Author.
- Considered one of the 100 Most Influential People in Time Magazine.
The Private Side
Jones got romantically involved with Jana Carter in 2005. The couple was blessed with two sons, Mattai and Cabrel. Unfortunately, the couple decided to split up and finalized their divorce in 2019.
Van Jones’ Related YouTube Video
Busta Rhymes – The Messy Truth with Van Jones and Busta Rhymes (Exclusive Interview)
Famous Quotes of Van Jones
- “You spent so much of your life’s energy trying to hold it together.”
- “We can disagree with conservatives. And we should. But we should stop disrespecting them.”
- “More of us need to prioritize individual healing to get past our old hurts, wounds, and violations. They are holding us back from being able to contribute fully to our country and our world. We need to develop the emotional strength and resilience to reengage intelligently and constructively with the half of America that sees things very differently than we do.”
- “At some point we have to accept responsibility for this country and everything in it. The country is waiting for a pro-democracy movement that can inspire it and not just critique it.”
The Social World
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Be Different. From his childhood, Jones was a socialist. He would think differently and wanted to make a change in the world. Immediately after completing his law school, he started making changes to society.
- Start Making A Change. With advancing technology, we should use mobile phones and laptops to change the world instead of using them as play toys and wasting time.
- Persistency. Van Jones started his socialist activities right after graduating from law school in 1993. He has been making changes since and doesn’t plan on stopping. His non-profit organizations have made significant changes worldwide, primarily in urban America.
The Unusual Stuff
- He was once awarded $100 million by Jeff Bezos, which he used to help the poor and destitute.
- Jones is a three-time New York Times Bestselling Author.
- He won an Emmy Award in 2020 in the Outstanding Original Interactive Program.
Answering Frequent Questions
How much does Van Jones make per year?
Van Jones makes approximately $1 million annually.
Is Van Jones dating again?
According to Daily Mail, Jones recently got romantically involved with Noemi Zamacona, who welcomed a new baby girl earlier this year.
Does Van Jones have any favorite books?
Van Jones’ favorite book is Writing My Wrongs by Shaka Senghor.
Is Van Jones a twin?
Van Jones has a twin sister named Angela Jones.
The Closing Remarks
Van Jones is currently one of the most influential people in the world. Since graduating from law school in 1993, Jones has been trying to make positive societal changes. Due to his achievements, he can be referred to as a man of action. He has been the Special Advisor for Green Jobs for President Barack Obama. Jones also was entrusted with $100 million by Jeff Bezos to distribute among his non-profit organizations. Jones isn’t interested in making fat stacks of cash. Instead, he prioritized his whole life bringing about a positive change in the lives of people around him.
Featured image credit: Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com
