S. Robson Walton

Rob Walton
Rob Walton
Born	Samuel Robson Walton; October 27, 1944 (age 82); Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, heir
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Former chairman of Walmart, majority owner of the Denver Broncos
Notable work	Chairman of Walmart (1992–2015)

Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton (born October 27, 1944) is an American billionaire and heir to the Walmart empire, recognized as the largest retailer worldwide. As the eldest child of Sam and Helen Walton, he held the position of Walmart chairman from 1992 until 2015. According to Forbes' May 2025 assessment, his net worth stands at approximately US$115.3 billion, placing him as the 13th wealthiest individual globally. Additionally, he is the majority owner of the Denver Broncos football team.

Early life and family

Walton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the firstborn among four children of Walmart's cofounder Sam Walton and Helen Walton. His brothers and sisters include Jim and Alice Walton; his brother John Walton passed away in 2005.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas in 1966 and later obtained a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1969. Walton started his professional journey at Conner & Winters, a law firm representing Walmart, before joining Walmart itself as senior vice president in 1978. He advanced to vice chairman in 1982 and was named chairman on April 7, 1992, shortly after his father’s passing.

Between 2008 and 2013, Walton and his siblings committed roughly $2 billion to the Walton Family Foundation.

On June 7, 2022, Walton headed a consortium that agreed to acquire the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion—a record-setting amount for a sports franchise—subject to NFL approval. The ownership group subsequently included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. Operational management is overseen by Walton’s son-in-law, Walmart chairman Greg Penner, who functions as both CEO of the Broncos and the public representative for the ownership group.

Personal life

By 1978, Walton was a father of three children and had divorced his first wife before marrying Carolyn Funk; their marriage ended with a divorce filing in 2000. In 2005, he wed his third spouse, Melani Lowman-Walton. Among his children is Carrie Walton Penner.

Walton is also recognized for his passion for collecting classic automobiles.

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