Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (2024)

Table of Contents
Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart and Sam's Club. Lukas' father, John T. Walton, was Sam's second-oldest son. In 2005, John died while piloting an ultra-light, homemade aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff. Lukas grew up in National City in San Diego County. When he was 3 years old, Lukas was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer that spread to his lungs. Within 5 months he had recovered, which his mother, Christy, attributed to a plant-based diet with produce sourced from her own garden. Following John's death, Christy and Lukas moved to Jackson, Wyoming. John left about one-sixth of his fortune to his wife, Christy, one-third to his only son, Lukas, and the remaining half to charitable trusts. Lukas also inherited his father's 20% interest in Walton Enterprises, the family holding company that, together with a different family trust, owns around a 45% stake in Walmart. Bloomberg lists Lukas as the 59th-richest American as of May 2024, but Forbes gives him a self-made score of one (out of 10), indicating that he inherited his fortune but is not actively increasing it. Lukas attended Colorado College, where he created his own major focusing on environmentally sustainable business and later studied energy efficiency and hydrological and geothermal energy in Iceland. He has traveled extensively and has lived in places like Thailand and Mexico. Rob Walton, the eldest son of Sam Walton, believes that his family's "environmental focus really grew out of a family connection to the land." Sam and his wife, Helen, are said to have instilled a love for the environment in their children and grandchildren, with yearly outings to places like the Buffalo National River, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. Lukas is involved with the Walton Family Foundation, the family's organization that awards grants toward education, environmental protection, and the family's home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. Lukas serves as the environment program committee chair and is also a board member of the organization. He is reported to have donated at least $150 million of his own fortune to the foundation. Forbes reports that between 2014 and 2018, the Walton Family Foundation donated almost $1 billion to K-12 education programs and $441 million to environmental projects. More recently, the foundation awarded $566.5 million in grants in 2022, according to its website. On the foundation's work, Lukas recalled that "one of the first grants that we did back in the day was help to develop a sustainable fisheries label. That to me, was a shooting star, was a golden emblem of what would be a successful marketplace development." In 2021, Lukas founded and publicly launched Builders Vision, an impact investing group working to tackle social and environmental problems. It's focused on "sustainable food and agriculture, healthy oceans, renewable energy and thriving communities," according to its website. Lukas Walton is the richest person in Illinois, according to Forbes' 2024 list of the wealthiest people in every state. In July 2022, he and his wife, Samantha, sold their home in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood for $1.7 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. Lukas keeps a low public profile. He has no known social media profiles and other personal details are largely absent online. FAQs References

US Markets Loading... h m s

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Homepage

Newsletters

Subscribe

Retail

Ryder Kimball, Ben Tobin, and Sarah Jackson

Updated

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (1)

  • Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, the American businessman who created the Walmart empire.
  • After his father died in a plane crash in 2015, Lukasreportedly inherited a third of his fortune.
  • The Bloomberg Billionaires Index lists Lukas as the world's 59th-richest person as of May 2024.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (2)

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (3)

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (4)

Advertisement

The Waltons are America's richest family but some of the Walmart heirs live pretty private lives.

Enter Lukas Walton, the 37-year-old grandson of Walmart and Sam's Club founder Sam Walton.

While his online presence is pretty limited, he's the richest person in the state of Illinois, runs an impact investing group called Builders Vision, and is chair of the Walton Family Foundation's environment program committee.

Here's what we know about him.

Advertisement

Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart and Sam's Club.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (5)

Lukas' father, John T. Walton, was Sam's second-oldest son. In 2005, John died while piloting an ultra-light, homemade aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (6)

Source: The New York Times, Business Insider, Bloomberg

Advertisement

Lukas grew up in National City in San Diego County.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (7)

Source: Intelligencer

When he was 3 years old, Lukas was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer that spread to his lungs.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (8)

Source: Intelligencer

Advertisement

Within 5 months he had recovered, which his mother, Christy, attributed to a plant-based diet with produce sourced from her own garden.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (9)

Source: Intelligencer

Following John's death, Christy and Lukas moved to Jackson, Wyoming.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (10)

Source: Intelligencer, Forbes

Advertisement

John left about one-sixth of his fortune to his wife, Christy, one-third to his only son, Lukas, and the remaining half to charitable trusts.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (11)

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes

Lukas also inherited his father's 20% interest in Walton Enterprises, the family holding company that, together with a different family trust, owns around a 45% stake in Walmart.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (12)

Source: Business Insider, Bloomberg

Advertisement

Bloomberg lists Lukas as the 59th-richest American as of May 2024, but Forbes gives him a self-made score of one (out of 10), indicating that he inherited his fortune but is not actively increasing it.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (13)

Source: Bloomberg; Forbes

Lukas attended Colorado College, where he created his own major focusing on environmentally sustainable business and later studied energy efficiency and hydrological and geothermal energy in Iceland.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (14)

Source: Forbes, Intelligencer, Walton Family Foundation

Advertisement

He has traveled extensively and has lived in places like Thailand and Mexico.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (15)

Source: Walton Family Foundation

Rob Walton, the eldest son of Sam Walton, believes that his family's "environmental focus really grew out of a family connection to the land."

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (16)

Source: Walton Family Foundation

Advertisement

Sam and his wife, Helen, are said to have instilled a love for the environment in their children and grandchildren, with yearly outings to places like the Buffalo National River, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (17)

Source: Walton Family Foundation

Lukas is involved with the Walton Family Foundation, the family's organization that awards grants toward education, environmental protection, and the family's home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (18)

Source: Walton Family Foundation

Advertisement

Lukas serves as the environment program committee chair and is also a board member of the organization. He is reported to have donated at least $150 million of his own fortune to the foundation.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (19)

Source: Walton Family Foundation,Forbes

Forbes reports that between 2014 and 2018, the Walton Family Foundation donated almost $1 billion to K-12 education programs and $441 million to environmental projects. More recently, the foundation awarded $566.5 million in grants in 2022, according to its website.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (20)

Source: Forbes, Walton Family Foundation

Advertisement

On the foundation's work, Lukas recalled that "one of the first grants that we did back in the day was help to develop a sustainable fisheries label. That to me, was a shooting star, was a golden emblem of what would be a successful marketplace development."

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (21)

Source: Walton Family Foundation

In 2021, Lukas founded and publicly launched Builders Vision, an impact investing group working to tackle social and environmental problems. It's focused on "sustainable food and agriculture, healthy oceans, renewable energy and thriving communities," according to its website.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (22)

Source: Fast Company; Builders Vision

Advertisement

Lukas Walton is the richest person in Illinois, according to Forbes' 2024 list of the wealthiest people in every state. In July 2022, he and his wife, Samantha, sold their home in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood for $1.7 million, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (23)

Source: Forbes; Chicago Tribune

Lukas keeps a low public profile. He has no known social media profiles and other personal details are largely absent online.

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (24)

Source: Business Insider

Read next

Walmart Billionaires Wealth

More...

Advertisement

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois (2024)

FAQs

Meet Lukas Walton, the fiercely private heir to the Walmart empire who is the richest person in Illinois? ›

According to Forbes, Chicago's Lukas Walton is again the richest person in the state, raising his net worth to just shy of $28 billion. Walton is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. His father John Walton died in a 2005 plane crash, with Lukas inheriting one-third of his fortune, according to Forbes.

Who is the richest Walton heir? ›

The Walton family fortune is broken down as such:
  • Jim Walton, $67.3 billion.
  • S. Robson Walton, $66 billion.
  • Alice Walton, $65.1 billion.
  • Lukas Walton, $23.8 billion.
  • Christy Walton, $11.6 billion.
  • Ann Walton Kroenke, $9.4 billion.
  • Nancy Walton Laurie, $9.4 billion.

How did Lukas Walton get rich? ›

Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, the American businessman who created the Walmart empire. After his father died in a plane crash in 2015, Lukas reportedly inherited a third of his fortune. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index lists Lukas as the world's 59th-richest person as of May 2024.

How much is Lukas Walton worth? ›

Where do the Walmart heirs live? ›

About the 5&10

In 1950, the Walton family – Sam and Helen, sons, Rob, John, and Jim, and daughter Alice Walton – moved to Bentonville in northwest Arkansas from the eastern side of the state. According to Sam, the town was small enough to satisfy Helen's need for small-town living.

Who is the richest person in Illinois Walton? ›

According to Forbes, Chicago's Lukas Walton is still the richest person in the state for the second consecutive year, raising his net worth to $28 billion. Walton is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

What family owns Walmart? ›

The Waltons are the richest family in America thanks to their stake in Walmart, the world's largest retailer by sales. An estimated 45% of Walmart's stock is held by the families of seven heirs of founders Sam Walton (d.

How much of Walmart does Lukas Walton own? ›

Lukas was the biggest beneficiary of his father's will and he's calculated to have received a stake now equal to about 3.8% of the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer. His mother, Christy, inherited a 2% stake after John Walton died in 2005.

How much are the Walmart heirs worth? ›

Walmart heir Rob Walton just retired from the retailer's board after 4 decades. He and his 2 siblings are worth a combined $228 billion — more than Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk.

Who inherited the Walmart fortune? ›

The combined wealth of the Walmart heirs — which includes founder Sam Walton's children, Rob, Jim, and Alice, as well as his late son John's wife, Christy, and their son Lukas — is roughly $240 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Who is the richest family in Illinois? ›

Thirteen Illinoisans made Forbes' 2023 wealthiest Americans list. Lukas Walton, heir of the Walmart founding family, topped the list as the state's richest person.

Who owns the other 50% of Walmart? ›

It is a publicly traded family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family. Sam Walton's heirs own over 50 percent of Walmart through both their holding company Walton Enterprises and their individual holdings.

Who is the wife of Lukas Walton? ›

He is married to Samantha Walton, who is listed as the co-president with Lukas Walton in the Builders Initiative, which is a Walton family foundation.

Who owns the most in Walmart? ›

Jim Walton owns the most shares of Walmart (WMT). The ownership structure can impact the company's decision making, as large institutional investors may exert influence on the company's management and can also affect the company's stock price with their buying and selling patterns.

Who is Walmart heir wife? ›

Kelly Rohrbach has always been a beauty, and now, being part of America's wealthiest Walton family ($274 billion), she is a beauty with billions, owing to her marriage to Walton heir, Sam Walton's grandson, Steuart Walton, since 2019.

What family is richer than the Waltons? ›

The Al Nahyan family with $305 billion. The Walton family with $259.7 billion. The Hermès family with $150.9 billion. The Mars family with $141.9 billion.

How many Waltons are billionaires? ›

Legendary founder Sam Walton's three surviving children — Rob, Jim, and Alice — all rank highly on the Forbes rich list with personal fortunes of between $72 billion and $79 billion. They were less than half as wealthy in 2016.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6213

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.