While this woman may not be a household name like some of the other wealthy figures globally, her $116 billion fortune is nothing short of extraordinary.
Many are familiar with the billionaire titans: Elon Musk launching rockets, Jeff Bezos transforming the shopping landscape, or Taylor Swift turning her music tours into groundbreaking ventures.
Yet, away from the limelight and trending news, there’s a woman who has risen to become the wealthiest among her gender, though she may be unknown to most.
Her story begins in 1962, when Sam and Bud Walton, two brothers, opened a small discount shop in Bentonville, Arkansas, aiming to prioritize affordability and accessibility for shoppers.
This local idea blossomed into Walmart, a retail behemoth with over 10,000 stores and a workforce exceeding two million globally.
The Walton family, originating from these modest roots, has become the wealthiest in the United States, with a collective fortune nearing half a trillion dollars. At the forefront today is Alice Walton, Sam’s only daughter, whose net worth now surpasses $116 billion, according to Forbes and Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
Her financial rise has been steep over the past year, with her wealth increasing by over $30 billion as Walmart’s stock reached unprecedented highs, gaining approximately 40 percent.
This financial boost placed her ahead of L’Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, whose net worth decreased to around $81.6 billion due to a slump in cosmetic sales.
Despite her vast riches, Walton has chosen a unique path compared to her brothers, Jim and Robson Walton, who also rank among the world’s wealthiest. She has distanced herself from corporate duties, focusing instead on the arts and philanthropy.
In 2011, she established the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, showcasing masterpieces by artists like Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Norman Rockwell.
The museum has become a key cultural venue in middle America, highlighting Walton’s dedication to providing art and education to rural areas.
She shared with The New Yorker: “Collecting has been such a joy, and such an important part of my life in terms of seeing art, and loving it.”
Her philanthropic endeavors extend beyond the art world.
This year, Bentonville will inaugurate a medical school named in her honor, welcoming its inaugural class. This initiative highlights her interest in investing in education, healthcare, and regional advancement rather than luxury or media attention.
Walton also had a brief involvement in horse breeding but, as reported by Business Insider, she stepped back from it after selling her horses and ranches in 2017.
She explained her decision by saying she was ‘stretched in too many directions and I want to get focused’, and added: “I’ve got a house in Fort Worth, so I’m going to move to town.”
While the Walton family is synonymous with vast corporate influence, boasting a combined worth of $470 billion and owning several major sports teams, Alice remains its most understated yet impactful member.