Alice Walton: An Heiress To The Walmart Fortune

The supremacy of Walmart in multinational retail is undisputed. When Sam Walton founded the company, perhaps he didn’t know that he would end up creating the largest company in terms of revenue worldwide – and a global empire run by the wealthy Waltons. The Walton family, through its extensive influence, power, and wealth, fuels the company’s and the world’s growth. One of the exceptionally influential family members is Alice Walton, the subject of interest in today’s article.

Alice Walton is an heiress to the wealth of Walmart. She is among the richest persons in the world as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. She continues to have her wealth enhanced as we speak. But is Alice Louise Walton just an heiress? No, she is much more than that. I shall tell you five things about her you should know. So, without further ado, let us take a look. 

Net Worth

Alice Walton earns most of her wealth through her shares in Walmart and owns more than a 50 percent stake in the company. She has a net worth of a whopping USD 60 billion, which makes her one of the most wealthy and powerful women on the planet.

An Art Aficionado

Her love for art can be traced back to camping trips where she, along with her mother, painted watercolors. Ever since then, she has invested her time, energy, and resources in the world of art, ultimately culminating in the foundation of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The Walton Family Foundation established the Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Inside has showcased a collection of numerous American art pieces and sculptures and housed an extensive library of reference materials. She also keeps purchasing classic artworks from time to time, such as the 1894 painting by Asher Brown Durand called Kindred Spirits. 

Active contributor to American politics

Alice Walton is known for her conservative leanings and has contributed immensely to political causes in the past. She was named the 20th most significant contributor to the US Presidential Election in 2004. Her contribution was essentially directed to the Progress for American group that advocated support for the United States occupation of Iraq. In 2012, she made donations to the organization, Restore Our Future, which rallied behind Mitt Romney in his Presidential campaign. She has donated to the Hillary Victory Fund as well. 

She has had her controversies

Alice Walton is no stranger to public criticism and controversies. For instance, she faced flak over low wages for Walmart’s employees. In 1989, she ran over a 50-year-old named Oleta Hardin. As it turned out, she was speed driving when the incident occurred. However, she managed to go scot-free with no charges filed against her. This is the most infamous of a string of accidents she was involved in in the past, and every time she managed to get off without any problems. One accident even caused her injury pain which still affects her; in the said accident, she drove her car off a ravine, broke her leg, and underwent several surgeries. One time, she ran her car into a gas station and a phone booth. 

She is also a philanthropist
Alice Walton, despite all controversies, is acknowledged for her active philanthropy. Her father, Sam Walton, used to limit his contributions to education, which had created uproar in the past. She, however, does things a different way. Through the Walton Family Foundation, she provides patronage to K-12 education and environmental causes in Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta. Under the aegis of the foundation, she supervises the Camp War Eagle program that provides children from all socio-economic backgrounds opportunities to engage in diverse activities. 

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