Willie Jess Robertson is an American businessman, actor, author, hunter, and outdoorsman best known for his roles as CEO of ‘Duck Commander’ and ‘Buck Commander,’ as well as his appearances on the A&E reality television series ‘Duck Dynasty.’ Willie Robertson, the third son of American pro hunter, entrepreneur, and reality TV personality Phil Robertson showed interest in his family’s business, ‘Duck Commander,’ which Phil started. He was important in growing the duck call industry into a multimillion-dollar empire, as well as launching the ‘Buck Commander’ brand of deer hunting goods. In March 2012, the Robertson family launched the American reality television series ‘Duck Dynasty,’ which follows their lives from patriarch Phil to the youngest member. Over the years, the series has grown in popularity. He has also appeared in other television shows such as ‘Billy the Exterminator and ‘Last Man Standing.’ Willie, a devout Christian, and member of the Churches of Christ promote Christianity to people on a regular basis. Apart from their Christian beliefs, the Robertson men are known for their lengthy beards, with Willie frequently seen wearing an American flag-style bandana around his head.
Childhood and Adolescence
Willie Jess Robertson was born on April 22, 1972, at the Tri-Ward General Hospital in Bernice, Louisiana, to Phil and Marsha Kay Robertson.
His father, a former Louisiana Tech University star quarterback, is a professional hunter, reality TV celebrity, and entrepreneur who developed ‘Duck Commander.’ His mother is a reality TV personality as well.
Si is his uncle, and he has two older brothers named Alan and Jase, as well as a younger brother named Jep.
He displayed an early interest in outdoor and hunting hobbies, as well as his father’s business, ‘Duck Commander,’ like his other brothers. Young Willie would be in charge of a variety of jobs at the organization, ranging from duck calls to business calls.
He attended the Churches of Christ-affiliated ‘Harding University.’ Later that year, the institution named him and his wife, Korie Howard Robertson, as Outstanding Young Alumni.
He also went to NE Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Performance with a focus on business.
The Career of Willie
Willie’s business studies have helped him grow ‘Duck Commander’ from a tiny family-run business to a multimillion-dollar conglomerate.
He is now the CEO of ‘Duck Commander,’ a company situated in West Monroe, Louisiana. The company specializes in making duck hunting devices, particularly the ‘Duck Commander’ duck call.
Due to the success of ‘Duck Commander,’ its subsidiary ‘Buck Commander,’ which develops deer-hunting products, was founded in 2006.
He appeared in and was the executive producer of the first television series that starred many of his relatives. From 2009 through 2010, the series ‘Duck Commander,’ also known as ‘Benelli Presents Duck Commander,’ aired on Outdoor Channel.
On July 1, 2010, ‘Buck Commander: Protected by Under Armour,’ a spin-off of the series, premiered on ‘Outdoor Channel.’
Willie appeared in 20 episodes between 2010 and 2011, sharing the stage alongside Chipper Jones, Adam LaRouche, Tom Martin, and Ryan Langerhans.
He also remained one of the show’s executive producers.
In 2010, he starred in another American reality TV series on A&E called ‘Billy the Exterminator,’ which follows the professional life of Billy Bretherton, a pest control expert, and proprietor of Vexcon Animal and Pest Control.
Members of the Robertson family began appearing in the reality TV series ‘Duck Dynasty,’ which centered around their lifestyle, on March 21, 2012. The sitcom aired on the A&E network for 11 seasons and 130 episodes from March 29, 2017 to March 29, 2018.
The show included Willie, his parents, wife, children, siblings, and their various families. Justin Martin and John Godwin, two of their workers, were also cast as main characters in the series.
‘Duck Dynasty’ quickly became one of the most popular shows on A&E, smashing numerous rating records. The debut episode of its fourth season drew over 11 million people, making it the most-watched non-fiction series of all time. Outdoor Channel bought the rerun rights to the series in 2016.
The show’s and its members’ popularity was so tremendous that A&E had to lift Phil’s suspension after only nine days owing to public pressure. Phil was suspended by A&E because comments he made in a GQ magazine interview were deemed “anti-gay.”
Willie and his uncle, Si, guest-starred in the Tim Allen-led American sitcom ‘Last Man Standing in the third season premiere episode ‘Back to School,’ which aired on ABC on September 20, 2013, and drew 6.67 million viewers in the United States.
On October 29, 2013, UMG Nashville published the family’s first full-length Christmas album, titled “Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas,” which was produced by Buddy Cannon. Willie remained the album’s arranger and major artist, as well as co-writing several of the songs.
The album was not only well-received by critics, but it also charted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums list.
It was the second best-selling Christmas album of 2013, with a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and gold certification from Music Canada.
In 2014, the family launched a new television show called ‘Duck Commander: Before the Dynasty,’ which takes viewers back to a time before the family became famous.
Willie made a cameo appearance in the Christian drama film ‘God’s Not Dead,’ which was released on March 21 of that year, alongside his wife Korie Robertson.
He was a guest of Vance McAllister, a member of the US House of Representatives representing Louisiana’s 5th district, during former US President Barack Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address.
At the West Monroe warehouse of Duck Commander in February 2014, he received the inaugural Governor’s Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence from then-Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal.
In 2015, he appeared on the American improv comedy show ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’
Personal History and Legacy
On July 6, 1992, he married Korie Howard. John Luke, Rebecca, Sadie, Will, Bella, and Rowdy are the couple’s six children.
Rebecca, an exchange student from Taiwan, became the couple’s foster daughter, albeit she was not formally adopted. Will, who is a year older than their biological daughter Bella, was adopted by the couple.
He lives in the West Monroe mansion of the Robertson family with his wife and children, as well as his parents, uncle, siblings, and their families.
Willie Robertson, like the rest of the Robertson family, is a devout Christian. He frequently preaches and expresses his strong religious beliefs and viewpoints.
The Robertson family conducts a lot of charitable work, notably in supporting the local church, but they don’t promote it on their popular show ‘Duck Dynasty.’
Estimated Net worth
Willie Robertson has a net worth of $40 million and is an American entrepreneur, reality TV star, author, and CEO.