Early Life
Katharine Ann Johnson Rayner, known as Kathy, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in either 1944 or 1945. She is the daughter of Anne Cox Chambers and Louis G. Johnson. Her maternal grandfather was James M. Cox, who founded Cox Enterprises.
Rise to Success
Rayner's wealth originates from her inheritance. In 2015, her mother, Anne Cox Chambers, divided her 49% share in Cox Enterprises among her three children. Katharine Rayner received an estimated 16.4% ownership stake in the company.
Key Business Strategies
Katharine Rayner has not taken an active role in the day-to-day operations of Cox Enterprises. The company is a privately held conglomerate, operating through subsidiaries like Cox Communications and Cox Automotive.
Philanthropy
Rayner is a committed philanthropist. In 2019, she donated over $5 million to the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She has also supported cultural and educational institutions. In 2017, she gave $15 million to the New York Public Library to enhance its research collections. More recently, in 2024, she pledged $10 million to the Morgan Library & Museum to endow the position of director, renaming it the Katharine J. Rayner Director.