The richest woman in the world holds a staggering $116 billion in net worth... but have you ever heard of her?
We can all sit there and daydream about what we would do if we had a few million in the bank, but if we ever reached the billions, I imagine we'd need to sit quietly for a while to avoid passing out.
But some people are living that dream, including Alice Walton, who has dethroned L'Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers to become the world’s wealthiest woman.
Born Into Retail Royalty: The Walmart Legacy
Alice Walton is the only daughter and youngest child of Sam Walton, the man who transformed a modest discount store in Bentonville, Arkansas, into the retail giant Walmart.
Founded in 1962 by Sam and his brother Bud Walton, Walmart was built on a mission to offer low prices and accessibility - an ethos that helped it grow into a global force with over 10,000 stores and more than two million employees.
Before his death, Sam Walton structured Walmart’s ownership so each of his children - including Alice - held 20 percent of the company. That strategic move laid the foundation for a family empire now worth nearly half a trillion dollars.
Her father once described her in his autobiography Made in America, writing: “the most like me – a maverick – but even more volatile than I am.”
Who Is Alice Walton?
Despite her immense fortune, Alice Walton keeps a low profile compared to many of her billionaire peers.
The 75-year-old Arkansas native has never been one to flaunt her wealth. “Money talks, wealth whispers,” seems to apply perfectly to her.
She has been married twice, with both marriages ending in divorce.
Alice is also the sister of Jim and Rob Walton, who currently serve on Walmart's board. A fourth sibling, John Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005.
Together, the family maintains significant influence, not only through Walmart but also as owners of major sports franchises and philanthropic ventures.
A Fortune Grown Through Inheritance - and Strategy
While much of Alice’s fortune stems from inheritance, her net worth has continued to grow thanks to Walmart’s soaring stock performance.
This year alone, her wealth increased by more than $30 billion as Walmart’s shares jumped 40 percent, pushing her personal total to $116 billion, according to both Forbes and Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
Her rise in wealth allowed her to surpass Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, now at $81.6 billion, and Julia Koch, who holds third place among women with a fortune of $74.2 billion. For context, only about 13 percent of the world’s billionaires are women.
Still, she remains behind her brothers in the overall billionaire rankings. Bloomberg lists Jim Walton at $131 billion and Rob Walton at $129 billion.