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S. Robson Walton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

S. Robson Walton
Walton in 2011
Born
Samuel Robson Walton

(1944-10-28) October 28, 1944 (age 80)[1][2]
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Arkansas
Columbia Law School
Occupation(s)Chairman of Walmart
(1992-2015)
Known forWalton family fortune
Board member ofWalmart
Spouse(s)Melani Lowman-Walton (div.; 3 children)[3]
Carolyn Funk (div.; no children)[4]
Parents
Relatives

Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton (born October 28, 1944)[1][2][6] 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. In October 2012, Walton was listed as the 11th richest person in the world.[7]

Early life and family

Rob Walton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 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.[8][9][10]

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 a juris doctor degree in 1969 from the Columbia University School of Law. Walton is also a trustee at The College of Wooster.[3][10]

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.[11] He was named chairman of the board of directors on April 7, 1992, two days after his father's death.[12]

Along with his siblings, he has pledged about $2 billion to the Walton Family Foundation from 2008 to 2013.[9]

Personal

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.[11] [4][13]

He is ranked at #17 on the 2013 Forbes list of world billionaires with a net worth of $26.1 billion.[9] On the 2013 Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America he is ranked at #9.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "S. Robson Walton Profile - Forbes". Forbes. March 9, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Rob Walton was born in 1944; Forbes listed his age as 66 in March 2011 and 67 in September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Serwer, Andy (November 15, 2004). "The Waltons: Inside America's Richest Family". Fortune. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  4. ^ a b DV00-01797 - S. ROBSON WALTON VS. CAROLYN F. WALTON (DIVORCE - NO CHILDREN). SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT STATE OF NEVADA, Washoe County. August 15, 2000.
  5. ^ "The World's Billionaires". Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Bloomberg Billionares Index". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  8. ^ "S Robson Walton". Forbes. September 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "2013's Top 20 Billionaires". Forbes. 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "The World's Billionaires #26 S Robson Walton". Forbes. May 3, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Ortega, Bob (October 20, 1998). In Sam We Trust. Times Business/Random House. p. 413. ISBN 0-8129-6377-6.
  12. ^ Thomas C. Hayes (April 7, 1992). "Wal-Mart's Leadership Remains in the Family". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "Billionaire Divorce. (Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Carolyn Walton, Robson Walton)". Entrepreneur. October 16, 2000.
  14. ^ "The Forbes 400 The Richest People in America". Forbes. September 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
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