Are you interested in the lives of the rich and famous? If so, the Walton family is one of the richest families in the whole world. It is reported that this wealthy clan is worth more than $250 billion.
The majority of this fortune can be traced back to the launch of one of America’s largest retailers. In addition to shares in Walmart, the company controls several other prominent businesses.
So, let’s take an in-depth look at the Walton family net worth and find out more juicy details about them…
The Origins Of The Fortune
Samuel Moore Walton was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and is an American retail entrepreneur. During the 1940s, he managed a Ben Franklin franchise in Arkansas with his brother Bud. In a few years, he has managed to double the revenue of the store.
Based on this success, Sam Walton decided to launch his own discount store that he named Waltons. The store proved to be an instant hit, and the business model was used to launch Walmart. The original premise was to launch a series of stores in small towns and sell products in bulk for low prices.
The very first Walmart store…
The first Walmart store was launched in 1962. Just five years later, 24 stores had already been launched throughout the state of Arkansas. The revenue for these stores was a cool $12.7 million.
In 1970 the company transformed Walmart into a publicly-traded business. As a result, it was listed on the New York stock exchange. The stock opened at $16.50 per share, and the initial stock listing earned the clan around $5 million.
Based on the success of Walmart, the family patriarch founded Sam’s Club. This is a special warehouse club that charges shoppers a membership fee. Members are treated to enhanced savings on everyday items as well as a range of special deals.
Passed onto future generations…
In the 1990s, this savvy entrepreneur expanded his business model. Branches of Walmart and Sam’s club can now be found in several different countries. This includes England, China, Canada, Mexico, and Germany. Sam and his wife were survived by three children; Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton. Each of these children inherited the family legacy as well as a share in the business.
Walton Family Net Worth – The Walmart Ownership
Today, the Waltons still own more than 50% of the total shares of the retail giant. Walton Enterprises LLC owns one billion shares, which translates to 35% of the total Walmart shares.
The clan collaboratively transferred over four million shares into the Walton Family Holdings Trust in 2020. This represents 15% of the total shares of the business. This is reported to be a higher commission than any other stakeholder has managed to obtain.
Making $100 million a day!
Son S.Robson, who is also known as Rob, is the current chairman of Walmart. He owns 2.6 million Walmart shares, which translates to 0.09% of the company’s total shares. These shares alone have an estimated market value of $330.6 million.
Jim Walton boasts direct ownership of 6.3 million shares, which are worth around $730 million. Sister Alice has direct ownership of 6.7 million shares, which are worth approximately $776 million.
Even though Walmart is now a public company, the clan has retained a large number of shares. As a result, they are reported to make $100 million a day between them from Walmart. This is around $4 million an hour and a little over $70,000 each minute.
Other Income Streams
It is easy to see that the majority of the clan’s money comes from the Walmart Corporation. This large and diverse corporation is composed of Walmart U.S., Walmart International, global eCommerce sites, and Murphy USA Gas Stations. Collectively, the family earns more than $3 billion each year in dividends from Walmart shares.
Each member of the family also gains income from their personal investments. Alice Walton founded Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas and invests in artwork. The museum boasts artwork from celebrated artists such as Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol. Jim Walton became the CEO of Arvest Bank and later took on a chairman role.
The Net Worth Of Walmart
Today, Walmart is valued at a total of $328 billion. The majority of this revenue goes to the founding family. There are a total of 4,743 stores in America, and at least one can be found in every state in the country. The second-highest number of stores can be found in Mexico, where there are currently 2,634 stores.
The retail giant boasts more than 11,000 stores around the world. In the United Kingdom, Walmart owns a popular discount chain of stores called Asda. There are more than 400 stores in China, which are known as Hypermarkets. Walmart stores can also be found in Chile, Africa, Japan, India, and Canada.
Other Wealthy Families
There is no doubt that the Waltons are the richest family among the richest people in America. However, there are plenty of other very wealthy families that can give them a run for their money. Let’s take a look at some of the other clans that have plenty of money to spare.
Mars
This is the largest candy company in the world, and multiple generations have taken the reins over the years. While the company is perhaps known for making M&Ms, it takes its name from the original Mars bar. In 2017, the company purchased the VCA pet care company for $9.1 billion. The total worth of the company is valued at $142 billion.
The company was founded by Frank Mars and his grandchildren Jacqueline and John Mars are each worth $31.7 billion. This places the siblings equally at the 41st spot on the Forbes list of billionaires. The company is currently being run by the fourth generation of Mars family members.
Koch
The impressive $60 billion that Charles Koch boasts comes from the oil business that was founded by his father. This inspired entrepreneur is famous for using his wealth from Koch Industries to finance political candidates. Koch Industries is currently valued at an estimated $124 billion.
Hermès
Anyone who has a passion for fashion is sure to be familiar with the Hermès name. The French fashion house is famous for its luxury scarves, handbags, and neckties and is estimated to be worth $112 billion. The company was created in the 19th century by Thierry Hermès, who created a range of elite riding apparel.
Al Saud
This royal family boasts a monarchical history that stretches back for more than a hundred years. The fortune of the family is estimated at $100 billion due to payments from the Royal Diwan. Although there are more than 15,000 members of the House of Saud, it is fair to assume that they are fabulously wealthy.
Ambani
Indian industrial conglomerate Reliance Industries is behind the staggering wealth of this prominent clan. The company is currently valued at around $94 billion and was founded in 1957. Today, the founder’s son Mukesh Ambani is the CEO of the company and runs it beside his brother Anil.
The company has a number of interests, including refining, petrochemicals, oil, and gas, as well as textiles, telecommunications, and power generation.
Wertheimer
Chanel is the company behind the wealth of the Alain and Gerhard Wertheimer brothers. Their grandfather Gabrielle Coco Chanel founded the company, which is estimated at $62 billion. Among the company’s most legendary products are their perfumes and the signature little black dress. Currently, each of the brothers is believed to be worth around $31 billion.
Johnson
Edward C. Johnson II founded Fidelity Investments in 1946, and the company is valued at $61 billion. The company has risen to become one of the world’s largest financial services firms and serves millions of people globally. Today, the company is run by Abigail Johnson, who is valued at around $21 billion.
Thomson
The media company Thomson Reuters was established in the 1930s by Roy Thomson when he started a radio station. This Canadian entrepreneur quickly expanded his empire, moving into newspapers. The company currently offers a wide range of media platforms and is estimated at $61 billion.
Grandson David Thomson is the current chairman of Thomson Reuters. He is estimated at $49 billion and ranks 26th on the Forbes billionaire list.
Advice From Successful Millionaires!
Who better to take financial advice from than successful millionaires themselves with the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth, the Baby Steps Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth, or perhaps The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime.
But that’s not all we found; check out The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, the Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity, as well as The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich, and The Millionaire Fastlane – Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime, all available online in 2023.
Of course, we couldn’t forget the Walmart Billionaire himself, so take a look at the Sam Walton Biography: The Walmart Billionaire, What I Learned From Sam Walton: How to Compete and Thrive in a Wal-Mart World, along with In Sam We Trust: The Untold Story of Sam Walton and Wal-Mart, the World’s Most Powerful Retailer, and lastly, Sam Walton: Founder of the Walmart Empire.
Walton Family Net Worth – Final Thoughts
The wealth of the Waltons has skyrocketed in recent years, making them the richest family in America. All it took was a good idea for a business and the willingness to work hard. Therefore, it can be seen as the embodiment of the American Dream.
While not everyone can make it to billionaire status, the story illustrates the value of vision. Most of the other clans on the rich list are also owners of successful businesses like Walmart. The next time you have a good idea for a business, you could become rich if you follow through with it.
So, what are you waiting for? Go out and start your own family business!
