Katherine Johnson Net Worth (Updated 2025).
Katherine Johnson, a name that has become synonymous with space exploration, began her remarkable career in the mid-20th century. Born in 1918, she showed an early aptitude for mathematics, a talent that would later propel her to the forefront of NASA’s space program. Despite the racial and gender barriers of the time, Johnson’s exceptional abilities earned her a place at NASA’s Langley Research Center in 1953, where she started as a human computer, performing complex calculations by hand.
Katherine Johnson’s Current Net Worth (2025)
As of 2025, Katherine Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. This figure reflects her decades of service as a NASA mathematician and her significant contributions to the U.S. space program.
Career
Katherine Johnson began her career at NASA in 1953, working as a human computer. She calculated trajectories for NASA’s first American manned spaceflight, the Mercury mission, and the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Johnson’s work was instrumental in the success of these missions and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
Other Ventures
In addition to her work at NASA, Johnson has also been involved in various educational and charitable initiatives. She has served on the board of directors for the National Technical Association and has been a strong advocate for STEM education. Johnson has also been the subject of a book, “Hidden Figures,” and a major motion picture of the same name.
Assets
Katherine Johnson’s assets primarily include real estate and investments. She owns a home in Hampton, Virginia, where she has lived since the 1950s. Johnson also has a portfolio of investments, including stocks and bonds, which contribute to her net worth.
Annual Income
Katherine Johnson’s annual income is not publicly disclosed. However, as a retired NASA employee, she likely receives a pension. Additionally, she may earn income from speaking engagements, book royalties, and other appearances. Her annual income is estimated to be in the low six-figure range.
Frequently Asked Questions about Katherine Johnson
**Frequently Asked Questions: Katherine Johnson Net Worth**
1. **Who was Katherine Johnson?**
Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician and physicist. She was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She is best known for her significant contributions to NASA’s space program, particularly for calculating trajectories for the Mercury and Apollo programs.
2. **When did Katherine Johnson start working at NASA?**
Katherine Johnson began working at NASA, then known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), in 1953. She was one of the first African American women to work as a research mathematician at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
3. **What were Katherine Johnson’s major contributions to NASA?**
Katherine Johnson’s most notable contributions to NASA include calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission, the first American in space, and providing the math for the 1961 flight of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. She also made significant contributions to the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first man on the moon.
4. **When did Katherine Johnson receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom?**
Katherine Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, on November 24, 2015. She was awarded this honor for her significant contributions to the U.S. space program.
5. **What is Katherine Johnson’s net worth?**
Katherine Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be around **$2 million**.
6. **When did Katherine Johnson pass away?**
Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101.
7. **Was Katherine Johnson married?**
Yes, Katherine Johnson was married to James G. Johnson from 1939 until his death in 1956. They had three daughters together.
8. **What was Katherine Johnson’s education background?**
Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College at the age of 18 with a degree in mathematics. She later went on to earn two more degrees, in French and government, from West Virginia University.
9. **What is the movie ‘Hidden Figures’ about?**
‘Hidden Figures’ is a 2016 film that tells the true story of Katherine Johnson and her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, three African American women who played a pivotal role in NASA’s early space missions. The film highlights their struggles against racial and gender discrimination.
10. **How old was Katherine Johnson when she retired from NASA?**
Katherine Johnson retired from NASA in 1986 at the age of 68.
