Jim Walton
James Carr Walton | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 7, 1948 Newport, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Walmart heir, Chairman of Arvest Bank and Community Publishers Inc. |
| Notable work | Board member of Walmart |
James Carr Walton (born June 7, 1948) is an American entrepreneur and heir to the Walmart legacy, the largest retail corporation worldwide. As of May 2025, he holds the position of the 12th wealthiest individual globally, with an estimated net worth of US$114.1 billion according to Forbes. He is the youngest son of Walmart’s co-founder, Sam Walton.
Early life
Jim Walton was born in Newport, Arkansas, as the third offspring of Walmart’s co-founder Sam Walton and Helen Walton. His brothers and sister include Rob, Alice, and John Walton. He completed his education at Bentonville High School in 1965, where he demonstrated leadership skills and athletic prowess. In 1971, he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing, and was affiliated with the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
Walton began his career at Walmart in 1972, initially concentrating on real estate management. By 1975, he advanced to become president of the family-owned Walton Enterprises.
Career
On September 28, 2005, Walton succeeded his deceased brother John on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors. He previously served as CEO of Arvest Bank, a family-owned financial institution, before assuming the role of Chairman. Additionally, he chairs Community Publishers Inc. (CPI), a newspaper company established by their father Sam Walton that operates across Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Between 2008 and 2013, he committed approximately $2 billion to the Walton Family Foundation along with his siblings.
By September 2016, Walton possessed more than 152 million Walmart shares with an estimated value exceeding $11 billion.
Personal life
James Walton is married to Lynne McNabb Walton, and together they have four children: Alice A. "Annie" Proietti (born 1979), Steuart Walton (born 1981), Thomas Layton "Tom" Walton (born 1983), and James M. Walton (born 1987). The family resides in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In 2014, he was ranked #10 on the Forbes list of billionaires with a net worth of $34.7 billion, reflecting a $3 billion increase from the previous year. He held the #7 spot on the 2013 Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans. By March 2019, his fortune was estimated at $45.7 billion, placing him as the world’s 16th richest person. As of September 28, 2024, he was ranked #17 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $102 billion and a year-to-date gain of $29.8 billion.
See also
References
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- 1948 births
- American bankers
- American billionaires
- American corporate directors
- American retail chief executives
- Businesspeople from Arkansas
- Directors of Walmart
- Living people
- University of Arkansas alumni
- People from Newport, Arkansas
- People from Bentonville, Arkansas
- Walton family