S. Robson Walton | |
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Born | Samuel Robson Walton October 28, 1944 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Residence | Bentonville, Arkansas[1] |
Education | University of Arkansas Columbia Law School |
Occupation | Chairman of Walmart (1992–2015) |
Known for | Walton family fortune |
Net worth | ![]() |
Board member of | Walmart |
Spouse(s) | Melani Lowman-Walton |
Children | 3[3] |
Parent(s) |
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Relatives |
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Samuel Robson “Rob” Walton (born October 28, 1944) is an American businessman and is the eldest son of Helen Walton and Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. He served as Chairman of Walmart from 1992 to 2015. As of March 2018, Walton had a net worth of $41.7 billion, making him the 17th richest person in the world.[4]
Early life and family[edit]
Rob Walton was born on October 28, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[1][5][6] the oldest of four children of Sam Walton (1918–1992), cofounder of Wal-Mart, and Helen Walton (1919–2007). He has a younger brother, Jim Walton, and a younger sister, Alice Walton. Another brother, John Walton, died in 2005.[7][8][9]
Walton attended The College of Wooster and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1966 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, where he was also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1969. Walton is also a trustee at The College of Wooster.[3][9]
After graduation, Walton became a member of the law firm that represented Wal-Mart, Conner & Winters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3] In 1978, he left Tulsa to join Wal-Mart as a senior vice president,[3] and in 1982, he was appointed vice chairman.[10] He was named chairman of the board of directors on April 7, 1992, two days after his father’s death.[11]
Along with his siblings, he has pledged about $2 billion to the Walton Family Foundation from 2008 to 2013.[8]
Personal[edit]
By the time he left Tulsa in 1978, Walton had three children, was divorced from his first wife, and was remarried to Carolyn Funk. He and Carolyn filed for divorce in 2000. He married his third wife Melani Lowman-Walton in 2005.[10][12][13]
He is ranked at #17 on the 2013 Forbes list of world billionaires with a net worth of $26.1 billion.[8] On the 2013 Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, he is ranked at #9.[14]
Walton is a well-known collector of automobiles.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ Jump up to:a b “S. Robson Walton Profile – Forbes”. Forbes. March 9, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- Jump up^ “The World’s Billionaires”. Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d Serwer, Andy (November 15, 2004). “The Waltons: Inside America’s Richest Family”. Fortune. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- Jump up^ “Bloomberg Billionares Index”. Bloomberg LP. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- Jump up^ Rob Walton was born in 1944; Forbes listed his age as 66 in March 2011 and 67 in September 2011.
- Jump up^ Ortega, Bob (1999). In Sam we trust: the untold story of Sam Walton and how Wal-Mart is devouring the world. Kogan Page Publishers. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7494-3177-8.
- Jump up^ “S Robson Walton”. Forbes. September 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c “2013’s Top 20 Billionaires”. Forbes. 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to:a b “The World’s Billionaires #26 S Robson Walton”. Forbes. May 3, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Ortega, Bob (October 20, 1998). In Sam We Trust. Times Business/Random House. p. 413. ISBN 0-8129-6377-6.
- Jump up^ Thomas C. Hayes (April 7, 1992). “Wal-Mart’s Leadership Remains in the Family”. The New York Times.
- Jump up^ DV00-01797 – S. ROBSON WALTON VS. CAROLYN F. WALTON (DIVORCE – NO CHILDREN). SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT STATE OF NEVADA, Washoe County. August 15, 2000.
- Jump up^ “Billionaire Divorce. (Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Carolyn Walton, Robson Walton)”. Entrepreneur. October 16, 2000.
- Jump up^ “The Forbes 400 The Richest People in America”. Forbes. September 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- Jump up^ Rob Walton: Zero for the Family Foundation but Millions for Vintage Sports Cars from changewalmart.org on June 3, 2014, last accessed on September 27, 2018.