The Ledger / S. Curtis Johnson
S. Curtis Johnson
◼ Origin
Born 1955; fifth-generation heir to the SC Johnson & Son fortune (maker of Windex, Pledge, Raid), founded in 1886. He co-founded Wind Point Partners, a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm, in 1983, and served as chairman of Diversey Inc., a family-associated industrial-cleaning spinoff, until resigning days before criminal charges were filed in 2011.
◼ Self-Made Verdict — INHERITED
Johnson is a fifth-generation heir to SC Johnson & Son; his wealth derives from inherited equity in a family business founded in 1886.
◼ Documented marks
01
Passive heir to SC Johnson family trust controlling the world's largest privately held consumer goods company (Windex, Pledge, Raid, Ziploc, Off!)
02
Convicted in 2014 in Racine County, Wisconsin of fourth-degree sexual assault of his stepdaughter, who was 12 when the assaults began; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor and served 4 months in county jail
03
Was removed as Chairman of Diversey Inc. (SC Johnson commercial cleaning spinoff) following his arrest in 2011
04
Did not register as a sex offender under Wisconsin law — a point of sustained public controversy given the nature of the offense
05
A second civil lawsuit by an alleged victim (filed 2014) was dismissed before trial
06
Holds a direct inherited equity stake in SC Johnson & Son, Inc. -- a privately held company with revenues exceeding $10 billion annually
07
Co-founded Wind Point Partners in 1983, a private equity firm that has raised $4.9 billion across nine funds focused on middle-market industrial and consumer companies
08
Former chairman of Diversey Inc., an industrial cleaning spinoff of SC Johnson; resigned in early 2011, days before criminal charges were filed against him
09
In 2017, he and his siblings pledged $150 million to Cornell University to endow the SC Johnson College of Business
10
Was not required to register as a sex offender following his 2014 guilty plea despite the conduct involving a minor
No inheritance, or primary accounts documented for this billionaire yet.
◼ List of charges
Total sentence
0–0 years
That is
0.0–0.0 life sentences
(using 78 years as one life)
At $1 million per day
S. Curtis Johnson's fortune would last 13 years
0.2 lifetimes of luxury — before running out.
These are moral charges, not legal ones. The actual legal system has not — and will not — bring them.
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