Jerry Jones

Jones was born in Los Angeles, California, to John "Pat" and Arminta Jones. The family moved back to North Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1945.Dent, Jim. King of the Cowboys: The Life and Times of Jerry Jones, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yPo1JGwOkVgC&q=%22jerry+jones%22+1945+angeles&dq=%22jerry+jones%22+1945+angeles p. 214] (Adams Media Corporation, 1995): "Pat Jones moved his family back from Los Angeles to North Little Rock in 1945." His parents owned two branches of Pat's Super Market in the Rose City neighborhood of North Little Rock.{{cite web |url=http://www.bestofarkansassports.com/jerry-jones-clan-in-north-little-rock |title=Only known remaining image of the store in which Jerry Jones grew up - Best of Arkansas Sports |date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=February 26, 2018}} Jones was a running back at North Little Rock High School, graduating in 1960.

After his graduation, Jones' parents moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Pat was president and chairman of Modern Security Life Insurance Co. The company, which an advertisement billed as a "one in a million" company, saw its assets increase from $440,299.76 in its first statement in 1961 to $6,230,607 in 1965 ($4,643,041.96 to $62,365,606.91 in 2024). After graduating from the University of Arkansas, Jerral W. Jones was listed as an executive vice president.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17250991/springfield_leader_19660220_p20 |title=Springfield Leader 1966-02-20 p20 |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=February 20, 1966 |access-date=February 11, 2018}} With the success of the company, the Joneses assembled the {{convert|5500|acre|ha|adj=on}} Buena Vista Ranch east of Springfield in Rogersville, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. In 1971, after selling the insurance company, the couple carved out {{convert|400|acre|ha}} of their ranch to start Buena Vista Animal Paradise, where tourists could visit exotic animals (now Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Missouri, just south of Interstate 44).{{cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-leader/obituary.aspx?pid=160636806 |title=Arminta Jones Obituary - Springfield, MO | News-Leader |publisher=Legacy.com |access-date=February 11, 2018}}

Jones attended the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.{{cite web |url=https://kappasigma.org/prominent-alumni/ |title=Prominent Alumni - Kappa Sigma Fraternity |website=kappasigma.org |access-date=September 25, 2018}} He was co-captain of Arkansas' 1964 national championship football team. He was an offensive lineman for College Football Hall of Fame coach Frank Broyles and a teammate of college football and NFL coach Jimmy Johnson, whom Jones hired as his first head coach after purchasing the Cowboys.

Other notable teammates were Glen Ray Hines, a consensus All-American offensive tackle; Ken Hatfield, who went on to coach several major programs including Arkansas; Jim Lindsey; future Outland Trophy winner Loyd Phillips; and College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ronnie Caveness.{{Cite web |url=https://www.arkansasnews.com/article/20141011/SPORTS/310119939 |title=Arkansas Celebrates 1964 National Title Team |date=October 11, 2014 |website=Arkansas News Bureau |language=en|access-date=June 21, 2019}} Several future head coaches were assistant coaches for Broyles on the Razorbacks' staff during Jones' college career in Fayetteville, including three more members of the College Football Hall of Fame: Hayden Fry (Southern Methodist University, North Texas State University, and the University of Iowa); Johnny Majors (Iowa State University, University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Tennessee), and Barry Switzer (University of Oklahoma, and later head coach of the Cowboys under Jones).

According to an interview with Jones on HBO, after graduating from college in 1965, he borrowed a million dollars from Jimmy Hoffa's Teamsters union to open up a string of Shakey's Pizza Parlor restaurants in Missouri.{{cite web | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2017/07/27/an-ever-growing-snowball-the-inside-story-of-jerry-jones-taking-the-game-people-he-loves-for-wild-ride-to-hall-of-fame/ | title=An ever growing snowball | date=July 27, 2017 }} When that venture failed, Jones was given a job at his father's insurance company, Modern Security Life of Springfield, Missouri. He received his master's degree in business in 1970. After several other unsuccessful business ventures (including an attempt, again using Teamsters money, to purchase the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1966),{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jerry-jones-asked-hoffas-teamsters-for-a-loan-to-buy-the-chargers-in-1966/ | title=Jerry Jones asked Hoffa's Teamsters for a loan to buy the Chargers in 1966 | date=September 22, 2015 }} he began an oil and gas exploration business in Arkansas, Jones Oil and Land Lease, which became successful.[http://www.askmen.com/celebs/men/business_politics_60/72_jerry_jones.html "Jerry Jones Sports Biography, Photos & Rise to Success"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123092701/http://www.askmen.com/celebs/men/business_politics_60/72_jerry_jones.html |date=January 23, 2014 }}. AskMen (October 13, 1942). Retrieved on December 21, 2010. His privately held company currently does natural resource prospecting.{{cite news |last=Dezember |first=Ryan |title=Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Scores on Billion-Dollar Natural-Gas Gambit |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dallas-cowboys-owner-scores-on-billion-dollar-natural-gas-gambit-11655870838 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |work=WSJ |date=June 22, 2022}}

In 2008, Jones formed a partnership with Yankee Global Enterprises to create Legends Hospitality, a food, beverage, merchandise, retail, and stadium operations corporation serving entertainment venues.[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/102108dnbuscowboysventure.12f38f6d8.html "Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees form joint concessions venture"] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611163734/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/102108dnbuscowboysventure.12f38f6d8.html |date=June 11, 2009 }}). The Dallas Morning News.

File:President George H. W. Bush receives a Dallas Cowboys jacket and helmet from Jerry Jones.jpg a Cowboys helmet, 1989]]

On February 25, 1989, Jones purchased the Cowboys from H. R. "Bum" Bright for $140 million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|140000000|1989|r=-7}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).{{cite web |last=Gaines |first=Cork |title=When Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys they were losing $1 million per month and now it is the most valuable team in the world |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jerry-jones-bought-the-dallas-cowboys-2017-8 |website=Business Insider |access-date=July 21, 2018 |date=November 11, 2017}} Soon after the purchase, he fired longtime coach Tom Landry, to that point the only coach in the team's history,{{cite web |last=Pincus |first=David |title=2/25/1989 - New owner fires Tom Landry |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/25/1326989/2-25-1989-new-owner-fires-tom |website=SB Nation |access-date=July 21, 2018 |date=February 26, 2010}} in favor of his old teammate at Arkansas, Jimmy Johnson. At the time Johnson was the head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, whom he had led to a national championship in 1987.{{cite web |title=New Cowboys Owner Fires Landry, Hires Jimmy Johnson
Arkansas Millionaire Buys Club, Taps Miami Coach – His Ex-Roommate |url=https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/26/18796703/new-cowboys-owner-fires-landry-hires-jimmy-johnson-br-arkansas-millionaire-buys-club-taps-miami-coac/ |website=Deseret News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=July 22, 2018 |date=February 26, 1989}} A few months later, Jones fired longtime general manager Tex Schramm and assumed complete control over football matters.{{cite web |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/team_executive_jerry_jones.cfm |title=Executive Profile – Jerry Jones |publisher=Dallas Cowboys |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305192136/http://www.dallascowboys.com/team_executive_jerry_jones.cfm |archive-date=March 5, 2010}}

After a slow start under Jones and Johnson (the first season under Jones, a 1–15 finish,{{cite web |title=1989 Dallas Cowboys Statistics and Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1989.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}} remains second only to the team's inaugural season in terms of futility),{{cite web |title=1960 Dallas Cowboys Statistics and Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1960.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}} they quickly built a team often considered one of the best NFL franchises of the 1990s. The Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII in the 1992 season,{{cite web |title=Super Bowl XXVII - Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills - January 31st, 1993 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301310buf.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}} as well as Super Bowl XXVIII the following year.{{cite web |title=Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills - January 30th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401300buf.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}} Johnson then departed and was replaced by Barry Switzer, who won Super Bowl XXX in the 1995 season.{{cite web |title=Super Bowl XXX - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys - January 28th, 1996 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601280dal.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}}

At the time of the sale, the financially troubled Bright claimed to be losing $1 million per month on the franchise.{{cite web |last=Horn |first=Barry |title=29 years ago yesterday, Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys. Here's an illustrated timeline of his tenure in Dallas |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2018/02/25/illustrated-timeline-jerry-jones-cowboys-ride-chargers-bid-tv-deals-super-bowls-tabloid-covers |website=Dallas News |access-date=July 22, 2018 |date=February 26, 2018}} During Jones' tenure, the Cowboys have appreciated in value to an estimated $5.5 billion, turning its owner into a billionaire in the process.{{cite web |title=Jerry Jones |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jerry-jones/ |website=Forbes |publisher=Forbes Magazine, LLC |access-date=May 16, 2022}} Much of the league's financial success since 1989 has been credited to Jones himself. In particular, he was decisive in securing Fox as the NFC's primary broadcaster at a time when the traditional "Big Three" networks were trying to convince the league into accepting a rollback in television rights fees.{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jerry-jones-opens-super-bowl-drought-article-1.2906110|title=Cowboys' Jerry Jones opens up to News about trying to end Super Bowl drought, Tony Romo, Dak Prescott and possible HoF election|author1=Gary Myers|work=New York Daily News|date=December 10, 2016}}

Increased television revenues have played a decisive role in securing the NFL's place as the world's richest sports league, with revenues of well over $1.2 billion per season.{{cite web |last=Kutz |first=Steven |title=NFL took in $13 billion in revenue last season — see how it stacks up against other pro sports leagues |date=July 2, 2016 |url=https://www.forbes.com/teams/dallas-cowboys/ |website=Forbes.com |access-date=January 18, 2025}}

The 2020 NFL season was Jones' 32nd as Cowboys owner, longer than the combined tenures of his predecessors.{{cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys Owners and Executives |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/executives.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=July 17, 2018}}

File:GULFSTREAM G-V N1DC Dallas Cowboys owners personal plane at VNY by D Ramey Logan.jpg N1DC Dallas Cowboys owner's personal plane at Van Nuys Airport]]

In an online poll from October 8, 2003, Jones was named the least-favorite sports personality by Sports Illustrated, in three states (Virginia, Delaware, and Texas).[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/news/2003/10/09/press/ Sports Illustrated features state of Virginia in series of 50 state-specific weekly section.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812232433/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/news/2003/10/09/press/ |date=August 12, 2013 }}, Sportsillustrated.cnn.com, October 9, 2003; retrieved December 21, 2010.

Jones is often vilified by fans who remain bitter at his unceremonious firings of longtime Cowboys personnel who were fan favorites, most notably head coach Tom Landry and personnel chief Gil Brandt, even though the Cowboys had done poorly the last few seasons before Jones became owner. Jones stated he did not give consideration to retaining Landry for even a season, as he said he would not have purchased the team unless he could hire Johnson as coach. Jones did not discuss the matter with Landry before announcing the decision. This was denounced by football fans and media as lacking class and respect. The Cowboys had long emphasized pride and tradition, and great performance and loyal service were expected to be rewarded. Since the dismissal, Jones indicated that he regrets the process of Landry's firing and his role in it. It later emerged that Jones' predecessor, Bright, had been dissatisfied with Landry for years and offered to relieve Jones of the inevitable criticism by dismissing the longtime coach himself prior to selling the team. Bright had wanted to fire Landry as early as 1987, only to have general manager Tex Schramm tell him that there wasn't a suitable replacement available."[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-26-sp-1290-story.html Ex-Cowboys Owner Bright Almost Fired Landry in '87]". Los Angeles Times. February 26, 1990. Accessed January 2, 2021.

Some of the fan criticism is due to Jones' high visibility and involvement as the "face of the team",{{cite web |title=Jerry Jones built a Hall of Fame legacy for knowing how to 'stir it up a little bit' |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/8/4/16095452/jerry-jones-hall-of-fame-induction-dallas-cowboys |website=SB Nation |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=July 22, 2018 |date=August 4, 2017}} a contrast to both Bright and the Cowboys' original owner, Clint Murchison Jr. Jones's prominent role has led to fans expressing displeasure with Jones and the lack of success of the franchise, with particular criticism of Jones serving as his own general manager.{{cite web |title=Why Jerry Jones' argument for keeping GM role no longer holds water |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2018/03/17/jerry-jones-argument-keeping-gm-role-no-longer-holds-water |website=Dallas Morning News |access-date=June 27, 2018 |date=March 17, 2018}} There was particular criticism of Jones over his conflict with head coach Jimmy Johnson, as Jones "wanted Cowboys fans to know he had helped build those Super Bowl-winning teams", while "Johnson insisted that he made all of the personnel moves" because he had the final say in football matters and refused to relinquish this power. Consequently, Jones ousted Johnson after the 1993 season despite two consecutive Super Bowl wins, and refused to induct Johnson into the Cowboys Ring of Honor for 30 years. On November 19, 2023, Jones announced that Johnson would be inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor on December 30 of that year.{{Cite magazine |title=BREAKING - Jerry Jones Reveals Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Induction For Jimmy Johnson |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-jimmy-johnson-jerry-jones-ring-of-honor-announcement |last=Whitt |first=Richie |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=November 19, 2023}} Jones also initially promised Bill Parcells, the Cowboys' head coach from 2003 through 2006, complete control over football matters; however, their relationship broke down after Jones signed controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens. Parcells' successor, Wade Phillips, complained to friends about being "undermined and second-guessed, repeatedly" by Jones.{{Cite web |title=Jerry Football |last=Van Natta |first=Don Jr. |date=August 28, 2014 |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11420510/dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-wants-known-football-man |website=ESPN.com}}

Jones and Mike Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals are the only two active NFL owners who have the title or powers of general manager. Jones stated that working as his own general manager helps streamline decision-making and communication lines with the coaching staff.{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Mark |title=Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones explains why he is also the team president and GM |url=https://www.all22.com/dallas-cowboys/dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-also-president-general-manager-explains-hall-of-fame |website=all22.com |publisher=Cox Media Group |access-date=July 22, 2018}} Over Jones' tenure, Cowboys fans have organized a number of grassroots efforts to displace Jones from his position.[http://firejerryjones.com/ Fire Jerry Jones!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115141633/http://firejerryjones.com/ |date=January 15, 2022 }}, firejerryjones.com; retrieved December 21, 2010.

File:Jerry Jones 2015 (2).jpg

Jones is the subject of the 2008 book Playing to Win by David Magee. In the book, Jones admitted he handled the firing of Landry poorly and accepted some blame for the disintegration of his relationship with Landry's successor, Jimmy Johnson.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Jones became involved in the St. Louis Rams move back to Los Angeles with Rams owner Stan Kroenke in 2016. He was instrumental in brokering a deal between Kroenke, San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos, and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis to ensure that Kroenke's SoFi Stadium plan passed, which it did via a 30–2 owners' vote in favor. Jones' support and role in the negotiations were criticized by some fans and sports media in St. Louis.Sports Day DFW (January 13, 2016). [http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2016/01/13/cowboys-jerry-jones-plays-key-role-nfls-decision-allow-rams-move-los-angeles "Report: Still an NFL power broker, Cowboys' Jerry Jones helps Rams earn Los Angeles move"]. Sports Day DFW, January 13, 2016. Jones was also a key proponent of the Oakland Raiders' move to Las Vegas to play at Allegiant Stadium.{{Cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/27/kawakami-las-vegas-raiders-deal-done-who-made-this-happen-whats-next |title=How Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got this Vegas Raiders deal done |last=Kawakami |first=Tim |work=Mercury News |access-date=September 19, 2019 |date=March 27, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Jones was fined $25,000 by the NFL for publicly criticizing referee Ed Hochuli after Hochuli made a call in a game between the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos on September 14, 2008. Jones made comments both to the press and on his radio show, saying Hochuli was one of the most criticized officials in the NFL. This was Jones' first fine by the NFL.San Diego Union Tribune, September 29, 2008, D14

In 2009, Jones was fined $100,000 for violating a gag order on labor issues, commenting that revenue sharing was "on its way out".{{Cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/09/espn-nfl-fines-cowboys-jerry-jones-100000-for-cba-remarks/1 |title=NFL fines Cowboys' Jerry Jones $100,000 for CBA remarks |last=Leahy |first=Sean |work=USA Today |date=September 13, 2009}} Commissioner Roger Goodell had issued a gag order for all owners and team executives from discussing any aspect of the pending labor issues. Jones "crossed the line", drawing a "six-figure" fine, sources said, as the commissioner distributed a memo to all 32 owners, along with a reminder that the gag order remains in effect. Goodell did not disclose the specific amount of Jones's fine in the memo.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4469721 | title=Sources: Jones fined at least $100K |last=Mortensen | first=Chris | author-link=Chris Mortensen | work=ESPN.com | date=September 13, 2009 | access-date=August 26, 2024}}

Jones was the inspiration for the character Baxter Cain (Robert Vaughn), owner of the Dallas Felons, in the 1998 film BASEketball. He had a brief cameo appearance as himself in the 1998 made-for-television reunion movie Dallas: War of the Ewings.

Jones and Deion Sanders appeared together in several television commercials during Sanders' time with the Cowboys.

Jones also appeared as himself in a 1996 episode of the television show Coach and in a 2007 television commercial for Diet Pepsi MAX, which also featured then Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo.

He appeared as himself in the seventh season of the HBO series Entourage in 2010, in an episode of the TNT incarnation of Dallas titled "Truth and Consequences", which aired on July 4, 2012, in a series of commercials for the 2012 season of ESPN's Monday Night Football, and in the season 4 premiere of The League. In 2013, Jones narrated a documentary film on former teammate and business partner Jim Lindsey.[http://jimlindseystory.com JimLindseyStory.com]. Retrieved May 3, 2013.

Jones also appeared in a 2013 Pepsi commercial, walking into an elevator filled with three men wearing New York Giants apparel, who look at him with discontent.{{cite news |url=http://live.pepsico.com/live/story/Pepsi-and-the-NFL-get-fans-pumped-for-football-all-season-long090520131127 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222231130/http://live.pepsico.com/live/story/Pepsi-and-the-NFL-get-fans-pumped-for-football-all-season-long090520131127 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |title=Pepsi and the NFL get fans pumped for football all season long |date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=December 22, 2014 |website=PepsiCo.com}}

He was parodied on the first episode, "Go Fund Yourself", of the eighteenth season of South Park, along with several other NFL team owners. In one scene, Jones is depicted as having huge, bulging chameleon-like eyes, as a young woman's head pops up from his lap.{{cite web |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/700-level/south-park-also-ripped-jerry-jones-roger-goodell-classic-redskins-takedown |title='South Park' also ripped Jerry Jones, Roger Goodell in classic Redskins takedown |date=September 25, 2014 |access-date=December 22, 2014 |website=Comcast SportsNet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225025223/http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/700-level/south-park-also-ripped-jerry-jones-roger-goodell-classic-redskins-takedown |archive-date=December 25, 2014}} He reappears in the season 21 episode "Moss Piglets."

He appeared as himself in the ninth episode of Landman,{{Cite web |last=Camenker |first=Jacob |title=Jerry Jones makes 'Landman' cameo: Cowboys owner impresses with emotional monologue |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/01/07/jerry-jones-landman-cameo-speech-watch-cowboys-owner/77505800007/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} titled "Wolf Camp", alongside Billy Bob Thorton and Jon Hamm.

NFL

• Three-time Super Bowl champion {{En dash}} XXVII, XXVIII, XXX (as owner, president and GM of the Dallas Cowboys)
• 2014 NFL Executive of the Year{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24963900/jerry-jones-named-nfl-executive-of-the-year-by-pfwa |title=Cowboys GM Jerry Jones named NFL Executive of the Year by PFWA |newspaper=Cbssports.com }}

NCAA

• 1964 FWAA College Football National Championship (as a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks)
• 2010 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Distinguished Texan Award{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfoundation.org/News/NewsDetail/tabid/567/Article/50822/jerry-jones-to-receive-distinguished-texan-award.aspx |title=Jerry Jones to Receive Distinguished Texan Award > National Football Foundation > NewsDetail |first=National Football |last=Foundation |website=www.footballfoundation.org |access-date=March 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101748/http://www.footballfoundation.org/News/NewsDetail/tabid/567/Article/50822/jerry-jones-to-receive-distinguished-texan-award.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Media

• 1993 Outstanding Team ESPY Award (as owner, president and GM of the Dallas Cowboys)

Halls of Fame

• Pro Football Hall of Fame (class of 2017){{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/pro-football-hall-of-fames-class-of-2017/ |title=Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2017 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |website=www.profootballhof.com}}

Other

• 1993 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports}}
• 2013 Horatio Alger Award{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/blogs/blue-star/Jerry-Jones-Honored-With-Horatio-Alger-Award-232399161.html |title=Jerry Jones Honored With Horatio Alger Award |date=November 18, 2013 }}
• Ducks Unlimited (Arkansas branch) Jerry Jones Sportsmans Award named in his honor{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/DucksUnlimitedJerryJonesSportsmansAward |title=Log In or Sign Up to View |website=www.facebook.com}}

Jones married Eugenia Chambers in 1963, whom he met while both were college undergraduates. They have three children. Stephen is the Cowboys' chief operating officer, executive vice president, and director of player personnel. Charlotte is the Cowboys' executive vice president and chief brand officer.{{cite web |title=Charlotte Jones Anderson official Dallas Cowboys bio |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/staff/charlotte-jones-anderson/7cf995a8-86d8-48ba-8fb1-132367c8c51f|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603044622/http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/staff/charlotte-jones-anderson/7cf995a8-86d8-48ba-8fb1-132367c8c51f |archive-date=June 3, 2013 }} Jerry Jones Jr. is the Cowboys' chief sales and marketing officer/vice president. Jones splits his time between a home in Highland Park, Texas and a home in Destin, Florida.{{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Savannah |title=Celebs spotted on the Emerald Coast |url=https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/local/2017/06/06/celebs-spotted-on-emerald-coast/20119668007/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=The Northwest Florida Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Buyer of $12 million Highland Park mansion gets Jerry Jones as a neighbor |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2017/03/10/buyer-of-12-million-highland-park-mansion-gets-jerry-jones-as-a-neighbor/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}

Jones revealed in July 2015 at a press conference before Cowboys training camp that he had undergone hip replacement surgery, joking that he would not start the season on the PUP list.{{cite web |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboysheadlines/2015/07/29/cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-gets-promise-he-won-t-be-placed-on-pup-list-after-hip-replacement |title=Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gets promise he won't be placed on PUP list after hip replacement |date=July 29, 2015 |website=dallasnews.com |access-date=September 25, 2018}}

{{as of|2024|November|}}, Jones' net worth is reported by Forbes to be $16.1 billion, the majority of which can be accounted for as being his ownership stake in the Cowboys who are currently valued by the same publication to be the world's most valuable sports team at $10.1 billion.

In March 2022, Jones was served with legal action by a 25-year-old woman who claimed that he is her biological father. The woman is the daughter of a former airline employee that Jones met in Little Rock, Arkansas.{{Cite web |last=Van Natta Jr. |first=Don |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Woman sues Jerry Jones, alleges Dallas Cowboys owner paid her mother to conceal that he was her biological father |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33464117/woman-sues-jerry-jones-alleges-dallas-cowboys-owner-biological-father |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Jones has paid nearly $3 million to the woman and her mother, which included the woman's full tuition at Southern Methodist University and a $70,000 Range Rover on her 16th birthday. Requests for money and other expenses exceeded the amount that Jones agreed to pay in the trust agreement between the parties by nearly $1 million over the years, including $33,000 for a "Sweet 16" birthday party, which was featured on the reality TV show Big Rich Texas.{{cite web |last=Van Natta |first=Don Jr. |title=Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones paid millions to woman who filed paternity lawsuit, lawyer says |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33640873/dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-gave-millions-woman-filed-paternity-lawsuit-lawyer-says |publisher=ESPN |date=March 31, 2022}} On February 29, 2024, a court decision required Jones to undergo a paternity test concerning the woman's claim.{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Todd |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ordered to take paternity test in ongoing 2022 case |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2024/02/29/jerry-jones-paternity-test/ |website=www.cowboyswire.usatoday.com |access-date=August 28, 2024}}

In November 2022, a 1957 photo surfaced depicting a 14-year-old Jerry Jones witnessing an argument where White students attempted to prevent six African-American students from entering North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. North Little Rock was beginning to integrate in 1957.{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Jerry Jones fields questions about 1957 photo published in report |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35102924/jerry-jones-fields-questions-1957-photo-published-report |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=ESPN}} Despite the school's head football coach ordering the team (which Jones was a part of) to stay away from such scenes, Jones said he was there as a curious bystander. Jones also stated: "I don't know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing what was involved. It was more a curious thing."{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2022 |title=Cowboys owner Jerry Jones identified in troubling 1957 segregation photo |url=https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/dallas-cowboys/2022/11/24/637ef2d8ca47413f298b45e2.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=www.marca.com |language=en}} Jones has expressed regret in not doing more to help the Black students feel more accepted at Little Rock.{{cite web | last=Whitt | first=Richie | title='I Had No Idea': Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Reflects On 1957 Little Rock Protest Photo | website=Dallas Cowboys On SI | date=November 25, 2022 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-1957-little-rock-segregation-protest-photo-washington-post-thanksgiving | access-date=October 19, 2024}}

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