Walton family

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Walton
Business family
SamWalton-1936.jpg
Sam Walton, founder of Walmart
Etymology Walton (surname); for "a place with the suffix tun ('town, farm, hamlet') and one of the prefixes wald ('a wood'), walesc ('foreigner') or walh ('farm worker')"
Founder Sam Walton (1918–1992)
Distinctions Wealthiest family in the world (US$432 billion; 2024)
Website WaltonFamilyFoundation.org

The Walton family is an American family whose collective fortune derived from Walmart makes them the richest family in the United States, [a] and, as of December 2024, the richest family in the world. [4] [5]

Contents

Overview

The three most prominent living members (Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton) have consistently been in the top twenty of the Forbes 400 list since 2001, as were John (d. 2005) and Helen (d. 2007) prior to their deaths. Christy Walton took her husband John's place in the ranking after his death. The majority of the family's wealth derives from the heritage of Bud and Sam Walton, who were the co-founders of Walmart. Walmart is the world's largest retailer, one of the world's largest business enterprises in terms of annual revenue, and, with just over 2.2 million employees, the world's largest private employer.

As of December 2014, the Waltons collectively owned 50.8 percent of Walmart. [6] In 2018, the family sold some of their company's stock and now owns just under 50%. [7] In December 2024, the Walton family's net worth was estimated to be US$432.4 billion. [4]

Walton Family Foundation

In 1987, Sam Walton endowed a charitable foundation. The Walton Family Foundation primarily focused on charter schools, but it later extended its program to include environmental issues, particularly water-related. [8]

In 2016, Alice and Jim Walton put a $250 million grant towards building charter school facilities. The Walton Family Foundation created the Building Equity Initiative to provide charter schools with access to capital to create and expand their facilities. [9] This initiative was established after the foundation announced in 2016 that it would spend $1 billion over the next five years to expand "educational opportunity" by partnering with charter school operators, researchers, and education reformers. [10]

Walton family fortune

In September 2024, Alice Walton had a net worth of $88.9 billion, making her the 18th-richest person and the richest woman in the world. Alice Walton (cropped).jpg
In September 2024, Alice Walton had a net worth of $88.9 billion, making her the 18th-richest person and the richest woman in the world.

The Walton family fortune is broken down as such:

Family tree

Their immediate family includes Jim, Christy, and Lukas Walton.

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Walton</span> American business magnate (1918–1992)

Samuel Moore Walton was an American business magnate best known for founding the retailers Walmart and Sam's Club, which he started in Rogers, Arkansas, and Midwest City, Oklahoma, in 1962 and 1983 respectively. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. grew to be the world's largest corporation by revenue as well as the biggest private employer in the world. For a period of time, Walton was the richest person in the United States. His family has remained the richest family in the U.S. for several consecutive years, with a net worth of around $440.6 billion US as of January 2025. In 1992 at the age of 74, Walton died of blood cancer and was laid to rest at the Bentonville Cemetery in his longtime home of Bentonville, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Walton</span> American philanthropist and prominent arts advocate (1919-2007)

Helen Robson Walton (December 3, 1919 – April 19, 2007) was an American philanthropist and prominent arts advocate, dedicated to being a grandmother and to her community in Bentonville, Arkansas where she instituted a committee for a national museum of arts. After 31 years of activity, the Arkansas Committee on the National Museum for Women in the Arts is the longest standing committee in the state. She was also the wife of Walmart and Sam's Club founder Sam Walton. At one point in her life, she was the richest American and the eleventh-richest woman in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. Robson Walton</span> American billionaire (born 1944)

Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton is an American billionaire heir to the fortune of Walmart, the world's largest retailer. He is the eldest son of Helen Walton and Sam Walton, and was chairman of Walmart from 1992 to 2015. As of December 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth to be US$110.8 billion, making him the 13th richest person in the world. He is also the principal owner of the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Walton</span> American heiress to the fortune of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Alice Louise Walton is an American heiress to the fortune of Walmart as daughter of founder Sam Walton. In September 2016, she owned over $11 billion in Walmart shares. As of November 2023, Walton has a net worth of $71 billion, making her the 17th richest person and the second-richest woman in the world according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after Françoise Bettencourt Meyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Walton</span> American businessman

James Carr Walton is an American businessman, currently an heir to the fortune of Walmart, the world's largest retailer. As of December 2024, Walton was the 14th-richest person in the world, with a net worth of US$109.5 billion according to Forbes. He is the youngest son of Sam Walton.

John Thomas Walton was an American war veteran and a son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He was also the chairman of True North Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. Walton cofounded the Children's Scholarship Fund, providing tuition scholarships for disadvantaged youth.

Nancy Walton Laurie is an American billionaire, as an heir to the Walmart fortune.

Ann Walton Kroenke is an American billionaire. Heiress to the Walmart fortune, Ann and her sister, Nancy Walton Laurie, inherited stock from their father, Bud Walton, who was the brother and an early business partner of Walmart founder Sam Walton. She is the owner of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and Colorado Avalanche of the NHL.

Christy Ruth Walton is the widow of John T. Walton, who was one of the sons of the Walmart founder Sam Walton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Kroenke</span> American sports team owner (born 1947)

Enos Stanley Kroenke is an American billionaire businessman. He is the owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which is the holding company of Arsenal F.C. of the Premier League and Arsenal W.F.C. of the Women's Super League, the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Colorado Rapids of MLS, Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League, the Los Angeles Gladiators of the Overwatch League, and the Los Angeles Guerrillas of the Call of Duty League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Dewji</span> Tanzanian billionaire businessman and politician (born 1975)

Mohammed "Mo" Gulamabbas Dewji is a Tanzanian billionaire businessman and former politician. He is the owner of MeTL Group, a Tanzanian conglomerate founded by his grandmother, developed by his father in the 1970s. Dewji served as Member of the Tanzanian Parliament for Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) from 2005 to 2015 for his home town of Singida. As of October 2024, Dewji has an estimated net worth of US$1.8 billion, Africa's 17th richest person and youngest billionaire. Dewji was the first Tanzanian on the cover of Forbes magazine, in 2013.

<i>The Worlds Billionaires</i> Annual ranking of the worlds billionaires by Forbes magazine

The World's Billionaires is an annual ranking of people who are billionaires, i.e., they are considered to have a net worth of US$1 billion or more, by the American business magazine Forbes. The list was first published in March 1987. The total net worth of each individual on the list is estimated and is cited in United States dollars, based on their documented assets and accounting for debt and other factors. Royalty and dictators whose wealth comes from their positions are excluded from these lists. This ranking is an index of the wealthiest documented individuals, excluding any ranking of those with wealth that is not able to be completely ascertained.

Josh Walton Kroenke is an American heir to the Walmart family inheritance and to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, his father's sports-media conglomerate. He is involved in running the Denver Nuggets basketball franchise, the Colorado Avalanche ice hockey franchise, the Colorado Rapids, and English football club Arsenal. The company co-owns Elitch Gardens Theme Park as well.

The World's Billionaires 2010 edition was 24th annual ranking of The World's Billionaires by Forbes magazine. The list estimated the net worth of the world's richest people, excluding royalty and dictators, as of February 12, 2010. It was released online on March 10, 2010. Forty reporters across 13 countries contributed to the list. Carlos Slim and Bill Gates were featured on the cover.

The World's Billionaires 2015 edition was the 29th annual ranking of The World's Billionaires by Forbes magazine. The list estimated the net worth of the world's richest people. The new list was released online on March 2, 2015. As of 2015, Bill Gates had been placed at the top of this list 16 times.

Carrie Walton Penner is the granddaughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, and the daughter of former company chairman S. Robson Walton.

Lukas Tyler Walton is an American billionaire heir. He is the grandson of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart.

Walton Family Foundation is an American private foundation and the main philanthropic organization of the Walton family. It was created in 1987 by Walmart founder Sam Walton and his wife Helen Walton. As of 2023, the foundation's giving focuses on environmental and educational causes, as well as supporting communities in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. The board of directors includes four members of the Walton family, and Stephanie Cornell serves as the foundation's executive director.

References

  1. Hanbury, Mary (August 16, 2018). "MEET THE WALTONS: How America's wealthiest family spends its Walmart fortune". Business Insider. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  2. Bryan Rich. "Christy Walton & family". Forbes. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  3. Jerin Mathew (July 2, 2015). "Walton family are richest in the US with $254bn net worth – Forbes". International Business Times UK. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Pendleton, Devon (December 12, 2024). "World's Richest Families 2024". Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  5. Berger, Chloe (December 12, 2024). "The Walton family is the world's richest as soaring Walmart shares drive the heirs' net worth to $432 billion". Fortune. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  6. "Wal-Mart says Walton family to sell shares to keep lid on stake". Reuters. April 11, 2015.
  7. Souza, Kim (August 23, 2018). "Walton family reduces stock" . Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  8. "Inside the Walton Family Foundation's "Unprecedented" Giving for the Colorado River". Inside Philanthropy. May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  9. Sullivan, Maureen. "Why Is The Walton Family Foundation Putting Another $250 Million Into Charter Schools?". Forbes. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  10. Sullivan, Maureen. "Walton Family Foundation Aims To Bolster Charter Schools With $1 Billion In Grants". Forbes. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  11. "Alice Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. "Jim Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  13. "S. Rob Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  14. "Alice Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  15. "Lukas Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  16. "Christy Walton". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  17. "Nancy Walton Laurie". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  18. "Ann Walton Kroenke". Forbes. Retrieved September 6, 2024.