Alice Louise Walton, born on October 7, 1949, is an American billionaire businesswoman and the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. As of July 2025, her estimated net worth stands at $116 billion, making her the richest woman in the world and the 15th wealthiest individual globally, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Early Life & Education
Walton was born in Newport, Arkansas, and raised in Bentonville with her three brothers. She completed her schooling at Bentonville High School in 1966 and later earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Career Highlights
Walton began her career as an equity analyst and money manager at First Commerce Corporation, later leading investment activities at Arvest Bank Group and working as a broker for EF Hutton.
In 1988, she founded Llama Company, serving as president, chairwoman, and CEO. Walton played a pivotal role in the creation of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, helping secure financial backing and contributing $15 million personally. In recognition, the airport terminal is named the Alice L. Walton Terminal Building. She was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.
Llama Company closed in 1998.
Passion for Art
A lifelong art enthusiast, Walton made her first major acquisition—two Winslow Homer watercolors—in the late 1980s. Over the next decades, she built a significant collection of American masterpieces, including works by Asher Brown Durand, Norman Rockwell, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Kehinde Wiley, and Titus Kaphar, among others.
Her dedication to making art more accessible led to the creation of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Opened in 2011 and designed by Moshe Safdie, the museum has welcomed more than five million visitors, with free admission for the public.
Political Activity
Walton has contributed financially to multiple U.S. political groups over the years, including support for Republican and Democratic-aligned committees during several presidential election cycles.
Philanthropy
Through the Alice L. Walton Foundation, established in 2017, Walton supports initiatives in arts, education, health, and economic opportunity. Her philanthropic efforts include:
- Multimillion-dollar grants to universities and medical research programs
- Support for food security projects in Northwest Arkansas
- Founding the Art Bridges Foundation to help regional museums access and exhibit major artworks
Healthcare Initiatives
In 2019, Walton established the Whole Health Institute, aimed at expanding access to holistic healthcare. She later announced the opening of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, expected to welcome its first class in 2025, pending accreditation. The project accompanies plans to develop a nonprofit medical system to advance specialized care training in the region.
Personal Life
Walton has been married twice, though both marriages were short-lived. She has experienced several serious automobile accidents over her lifetime, including one in 1989 that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, for which no charges were filed.
A dedicated horse enthusiast, she owned the Rocking W Ranch in Texas for many years before relocating to focus on Crystal Bridges. She returned to Bentonville in 2020.