Anne Cox Chambers Biography & Net Worth

Anne Cox Chambers Biography & Net Worth

Anne Cox Chambers was an American media proprietor and diplomat. She was the United States Ambassador to Belgium for five years from 1977 to 1981. Cox was the co-owner of the family company “Cox Enterprises“, a privately held media empire. In 2016, Forbes Magazine estimated Anne Cox net worth at $17 billion.

Anne Cox Chambers Early life

Anne Beau Cox Chambers was born on 1 December 1919, in Dayton, Ohio, United States. She was born to Margaretta Parker Blair and her husband, politician and newspaper publisher James M. Cox, who was the 1920 Democratic Presidential nominee. She was a student of Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. She also attended Finch College in New York.

Anne Cox Chambers Career

Following the death of their brother, James M. Cox, in 1974, Anne and her sister Barbara gained control of the family company. That same year she became chairwoman of Atlanta Newspapers. Her sister Barbara Cox Anthony became chairwoman of Dayton Newspapers, and her husband, Garner, was made the administrative head of Cox Enterprises.

In 1988 Barbara’s son James Cox Kennedy became chief executive officer and chairman, while Anne remained close to provide advice concerning the company’s daily operation. From 1977 to 1981, Anne Cox served as ambassador to Belgium following her appointment by United States President Jimmy Carter, and held this post for a period of five years.

During the 1980’s, she served as director of the board of Coca-Cola Company, and was the first female bank director in Atlanta when she held the position in Fulton National Bank. She was also the first female in Atlanta to be appointed board of the city’s chamber of commerce.

Cox was the chair of Atlanta Newspapers. She served as a director of the Cox Enterprises, which was a large media company that includes cable TV, radio, television, newspapers, other businesses. She controlled and owned 49% the business interests of the family through umbrella company, Cox Enterprises. The company, which initially started from humble beginnings running a small newspaper, today includes Cox Media Group (newspapers, TV and radio), AutoTrader.com, Manheim (car auctions), and Cox Communications (broadband and cable).

Apart from her responsibilities related to the Cox Enterprises, Anne Cox was a notable Philanthropist. She supported a wide range of educational and cultural charities over the years and was recognized and honored with several awards and honorary doctorates recognizing her efforts and philanthropy. Notably, she was a board member at the Whitney Museum in New York, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Pasteur Foundation, the Atlanta Historical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as the Woodruff Arts Center. She and her husband were some of the largest financial supporters of the then president of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, so her appointment as ambassador to Belgium from 1977 to 1981 wasn’t received with surprise.

For trust and tax planning purposes, Anne Cox technically passed her fortune to her children in 2016.

Personal life & Death

Anne Cox had two daughters in her marriage to Louis G. Johnson. Their names are Katherine and Margaretta.
After her marriage ended in a divorce, she married Robert William Chambers in 1955, and they had a son, James.

Anne Cox Chambers died due to natural causes on 31 January 2020, at her home in Atlanta. She was 100 years old at the time of her death.

Anne Cox Chambers Net Worth

Anne Cox Chambers was a media proprietor and diplomat. She was the surviving daughter of founder of Cox Enterprises James M. Cox and Margaretta Parker Blair his second wife. Upon the death of their only brother, two sisters Anne and Barbara took over the family business. Anne controlled and owned 49% the business interests of the family through umbrella company, Cox Enterprises. The company, which initially started from humble beginnings running a small newspaper, today includes Cox Media Group (newspapers, TV and radio), AutoTrader.com, Manheim (car auctions), and Cox Communications (broadband and cable). Mrs. Anne Cox Chambers sat on the board of the company through the end of her life. For trust and tax planning purposes, Anne Cox technically passed her fortune to her children in 2016. Her grandson Alex Taylor is the present President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cox Enterprises, and Jim Kennedy who’s the Chairman is her nephew.

Anne Cox lived quite a life. she was a billionaire 17 times over. Anne Cox Chambers net worth is estimated at $17 billion