The American businessman and Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones and his three kids have long remained the face of the iconic NFL franchise. Under the Jones family’s ownership, the Dallas Cowboys have become the most valuable NFL team at $11B.
Before becoming an NFL team owner, Jerry was one of the big names in the oil and gas industry.
Born in Los Angeles, Jerry and his family moved to Arkansas when he was a child.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas, Jones ventured into the world of oil and gas, starting his company, Jones Oil and Land Lease.
He struck oil in 12 of his first 13 wells, with his first well yielding him $4 million in oil.
In 1982, his oil and gas company, Arkoma Production, bought land with natural gas reserves for $15 million, and four years later, he sold the company for $175 million.
Seven years later, Jones bought the Cowboys from the former owner, Bum Bright, for $140 million.
Since then, Jones has remained one of the well-known and controversial figures in the NFL.
For many years, Cowboys fans have wanted Jones to step down from his position, but in 2023, Jones made it clear he isn’t leaving his beloved franchise anytime soon.
Even if Jerry leaves one day, his three kids- Stephen Jones, Jerry Jones Jr., and Charlotte Jones are ready to take over.
Jerry Jones Has Two Sons And Both Of Them Are Heavily Involved With The NFL Franchise
The Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his wife Eugenia met when they were undergraduates at the University of Arkansas.
After dating for three years, the couple tied the knot on January 19, 1963.
In their 61 years of bond, Jerry and Eugenia Jones became parents to three kids and grandparents to ten.
The couple has two sons- Stephen Jones and Jerry Jones Jr.
Stephen Jones – COO and Co-Owner Of The Cowboys
John Stephen Jones, also known as Stephen Jones, is the oldest of the three kids.
Stephen, 60, was born in Danville, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock.
Though he never became a professional athlete, Stephen received many accolades as a football player.
He received a scholarship offer from Princeton University but chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and enrolled at the University of Arkansas.
With the Razorbacks, Stephen starred in the Orange Bowl Classic Game as a linebacker and special teams.
Stephen graduated from Arkansas with a chemical engineering degree in 1988 and started working in the oil and gas business for JMC Exploration.
Jones has held the COO position with the Cowboys since his father purchased the team in 1989.
He manages the operations of all aspects of the Cowboys and AT&T Stadium and oversees the team’s scouting and player personnel department.
Stephen is married to Karen Jones, and the couple shares four kids- Stephen Jones Jr., Jessica, Caroline, and Jordan.
Stephen’s son, Stephen Jones Jr., attended the University of Arkansas like his grandfather and father.
A student-athlete, Jones Jr. played for the football team and is currently a Manager of Corporate Partnership Sales with the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones Jr. – Chief Sales And Marketing Officer And Co-Owner
The youngest child of the Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones Jr., has a law background.
He enrolled at Georgetown University and graduated with a political science degree in 1992.
He went on to earn his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1995.
Unlike his brother, Jerry Jones Jr., wasn’t involved in the family business from the get-go.
Though he joined the club in 1996 as Vice President and General Counsel, Jones Jr. only became heavily involved with the team starting from 2001.
He joined the Cowboys as their Chief Marketing Officer in 2001 and was instrumental in launching the Dallas Cowboys website.
The team even won Best Team Website in 2003, and three years later, the Cowboys won the NFL Award for Best Content.
In the past, Jerry Jones Jr. has also served on the NFL’s Marketing Executive Committee, the Internet Working Group Committee, and the League’s Digital Media Committee.
Jones Jr. is married to Lori Lemon, with whom he shares two kids- Mary and James Jones.
Before marrying Lori, Jones Jr. was in a relationship with actress Janine Turner. The two share a daughter named Juliette Turner-Jones.
Juliette is a Harvard Law graduate and serves as an Associate at Quinn Emanuel.
Jerry And Eugenia Jones Also Have A Daughter Named Charlotte Jones
Charlotte Jones is the middle child of the Jones family.
The only daughter of the billionaire, Charlotte, 58, is the Chief Brand Officer and Co-owner of the Cowboys.
A Stanford graduate, Charlotte was ready to make a name for herself in politics before her father got her involved in the family business.
She joined the Cowboys in 1990 and began helping out the team.
Charlotte has played a key role in shaping the design, decor, sponsor integration, and overall presentation of AT&T Stadium.
In 2012, Charlotte was named Chairman of the NFL Foundation, and a year later, Charlotte, with her mom, received the Texas Medal of Arts – Arts Patrons Award.
Jones has also been highly involved in the philanthropic aspect of the team.
From 2010 to 2014, Jones served as the chairman of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board, becoming the first woman to be elected.
Charlotte was previously married to Shy Anderson, with whom she shares three kids: Haley, Shy Jr., and Paxton.
After divorcing Shy, Charlotte tied the knot with Amir Rozwadowski in 2024.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jerry Jones once admitted he cried after the Cowboys lost the 2002 season opener against the Texans.
- Jerry Jones almost bought the San Diego Chargers in 1966. He withdrew his offer after listening to his dad, Pat Jones.
