Diane Hendricks

Diane Hendricks
Born	Diane Marie Smith (1947-03-02) March 2, 1947 Mondovi, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businesswoman, political donor
Known for	Owner and chairperson of ABC Supply; leading conservative political donor in Wisconsin

Diane Marie Hendricks (born Smith; March 2, 1947) is an American billionaire entrepreneur and prominent conservative political contributor. She is the widow of businessman Ken Hendricks and recognized as Wisconsin’s leading political donor.

Biography

Hendricks was born in Mondovi, Wisconsin and grew up in Osseo, Wisconsin as the daughter of dairy farmers. At seventeen, she became a mother and took on work assembling pens at Parker Pen Company. She completed her education at Osseo-Fairchild High School in 1965 and later obtained a real estate broker’s license. Early in her professional life, she has mentioned working as a Playboy Bunny.

In 1975, she married roofing contractor Ken Hendricks. The couple invested in deteriorated residential and industrial buildings in the Beloit, Wisconsin area, renovating them for rental purposes. Hendricks is a mother to seven children and lives in Afton, Wisconsin. Ken Hendricks passed away in 2007 at age 66 after suffering a fatal fall during home construction.

Career

Beginning in 1975, Hendricks was involved in selling custom homes. Her husband Ken, who left high school early and was the son of a roofer, became her business partner. They obtained financing in 1982 to launch ABC Supply, which expanded to become the largest wholesale distributor nationwide for roofing materials, windows, gutters, and siding serving both residential and commercial markets.

Hendricks owns a holding company and holds the positions of owner and chairperson at ABC Supply. In 2018, Forbes recognized her as the wealthiest self-made woman in the United States. By December 2024, her net worth was estimated by Forbes at $21.9 billion, representing significant growth from $2.8 billion recorded in March 2012.

In September 2022, Hendricks stepped down from the board of Beloit College. A&E Network plans to broadcast a program titled "Betting on Beloit" in July 2025, featuring Hendricks alongside her daughter Konya Hendricks Schuh, showcasing her initiatives in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Political supporter

Hendricks has played a major role as a political donor and influencer. She was a key backer of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, contributing $500,000 to his 2012 recall election campaign and $5 million to an affiliated PAC in 2015 (with $4 million subsequently refunded). She has been an outspoken advocate for Right to Work laws in Wisconsin.

At the 2024 Republican National Convention, she addressed attendees as an "everyday American." Hendricks is also a substantial donor to Donald Trump, giving $1.4 million per election cycle to the Trump Victory committee during both 2016 and 2020 campaigns; additionally contributing $4 million to America First Action in 2020 and $1.1 million directly to Trump’s 2020 campaign. By 2023, her donations to the Super PAC Make America Great Again, Inc. had reached $5 million. In 2016, she donated over $5 million to the Reform America Fund supporting Republican Senator Ron Johnson.

She served as an economic advisor during Trump’s presidential bid and provided support for Paul Ryan while donating millions between 2014 and 2016 to the Koch-backed Freedom Partners Action Fund.

Before Scott Pruitt resigned in 2018, Hendricks contributed $50,000 towards his legal defense fund. She has also financially supported Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s campaign efforts.

Tax disputes

A report by Urban Milwaukee uncovered that the residence owned by Hendricks in the Town of Rock, Wisconsin, spanning 8,500 square feet, was originally valued as a 1,663-square-foot ranch-style home. Subsequently, Hendricks refused the tax assessor entry to the premises citing "security concerns." Upon submission of further information, the valuation of the property was adjusted upward from $445,700 to $1,205,500.

External links

• Who is Diane Hendricks? featured in Milwaukee Magazine
• Widow a power in Beloit, beyond published by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
• Q&A With Diane Hendricks from Beloit Daily News
• Government, get out of the way of business – opinion article authored by Diane Hendricks in USA Today
• "Diane Hendricks" on IMDb