S. Robson Walton

Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton (born October 27, 1944) is an American billionaire heir to the fortune of Walmart, the world's largest retailer. He is the eldest son of Helen Walton and Sam Walton, and was chairman of Walmart from 1992 to 2015. As of May 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth to be US$115.3 billion, making him the 13th richest person in the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is also the principal owner of the Denver Broncos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life and family

Walton in 2011

Rob Walton was born on October 27, 1944,<ref name="Basquez">Template:Cite news</ref> in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the oldest of four children of Sam Walton (1918–1992), cofounder of Walmart, 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.<ref name=ForbesRW1309>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ForbesRW2T2B">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=TWB26RW75>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 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.<ref name="Serwer" /><ref name=TWB26RW75/>

After graduation, Walton became a member of the law firm Conner & Winters in Tulsa, Oklahoma <ref name="Serwer" />, which represented Walmart. In 1978, he left Tulsa to join Walmart as a senior vice president,<ref name="Serwer" /> and in 1982, he was appointed vice chairman.<ref name="Ortega" /> He was named chairman of the board of directors on April 7, 1992, two days after his father's death.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Along with his siblings, he has pledged about $2 billion to the Walton Family Foundation from 2008 to 2013.<ref name=ForbesRW2T2B/>

On June 7, 2022, an ownership group led by Walton entered into an agreement to purchase the Denver Broncos from the estate of Pat Bowlen for $4.65 billion, which set the record for the most expensive sale of a sports franchise in history, subject to approval from the NFL's finance committee and a 3/4 majority of the full NFL ownership group.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was announced as added to the ownership group on July 11, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The family then announced on August 2, 2022, that Lewis Hamilton would be added to the ownership group.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Walton delegated most day-to-day authority to his son-in-law, Walmart chairman Greg Penner, who took over as CEO of the franchise and the public face of the ownership group.<ref name="PennerBroncosCEO">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

By the time he left Tulsa in 1978, Walton had three children, was divorced from his first wife, and had remarried to Carolyn Funk. He and Carolyn filed for divorce in 2000. He married his third wife Melani Lowman-Walton in 2005.<ref name="Ortega"/><ref name="Washoe County">DV00-01797 - S. ROBSON WALTON VS. CAROLYN F. WALTON (DIVORCE - NO CHILDREN). SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT STATE OF NEVADA, Washoe County. August 15, 2000.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His children include Carrie Walton Penner.

Walton is a well-known collector of automobiles.<ref name="Millions">Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Official Wal-Mart biography
• S. Robson Walton's campaign contributions
• Rob Walton Refuses to Answer on Company’s Record in Local Communities - video report by Democracy Now!