Jim Walton: Early Life And Education, Walmart, Philanthropy

Jim Walton: Early Life And Education, Walmart, Philanthropy

By
Will Kenton
Full Bio
Will Kenton is an expert on the economy and investing laws and regulations. He previously held senior editorial roles at Investopedia and Kapitall Wire and holds a MA in Economics from The New School for Social Research and Doctor of Philosophy in English literature from NYU.
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Updated January 29, 2023
Reviewed by Eric Estevez

Jim Walton is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart Inc. He served on the board of Walmart from 2005 to 2016 and is currently chair of the Arvest Bank Group.

As an heir to the Walmart fortune, Jim Walton boasts a net worth of $61.3 billion in 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • Jim Walton is the youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton.
  • He held a seat on the board of directors of Walmart from 2005 to 2016 following the death of his brother, John.
  • Walton is the chair of Arvest Bank Group.
  • Jim Walton's son became the first of the third generation of Waltons to assume a board seat at Walmart Inc.


Jim Walton

Investopedia / Alex Dos Diaz

Early Life and Education

Jim Walton was born on June 7, 1948, in Newport, Arkansas. The third and youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Jim Walton earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of Arkansas in 1971. He traveled extensively and earned a pilot's license before joining the family business in 1972.

Walmart

Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Arkansas. A publicly-traded company since 1970, Walmart currently has over 11,000 stores in the United States and internationally. As of 2022, Walmart employed nearly 1.6 million people in the United States.

The Waltons are considered the wealthiest family in the world with an estimated net worth of $238 billion in 2021. Collectively, Jim Walton and other heirs of Sam Walton own half of all Walmart stock.

In 1972, Jim Walton joined Walmart in the real estate operations division. He moved to his family’s umbrella corporation, Walton Enterprises, in 1975, where he served briefly as president. Jim Walton's interest in banking led him to the family's company, Arvest Bank Group, where he remains today.

While holding his position at Arvest, he rejoined Walmart to assume the vacant board position after the death of his brother John in 2005.

Arvest Bank Group

Jim Walton is currently chair and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank Group, a Walton-owned regional bank that operates more than 260 banks in more than 100 communities throughout Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The Walton family created Arvest through its purchases of the Bank of Bentonville in 1961, the Bank of Pea Ridge in 1963, and the First National Bank & Trust Company in 1975. Arvest expanded in 2013 with the purchase of 29 Bank of America locations in the region. As of 2022, Arvest Bank Group had assets exceeding $20 billion and was ranked the largest bank in Arkansas by deposits and one of the largest in Oklahoma by the number of branches.

Philanthropy

Jim Walton has made considerable donations to the Walton Family Foundation, a family-led organization. Three generations of the descendants of Sam and Helen Walton work to improve K-12 education, protect rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and invest in the region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.

In 2020, the foundation awarded $749.5 million in grants to further our mission.

Which Generations of the Walton Family Hold Leadership Positions at Walmart Inc.?

In addition to members of the second generation, Jim Walton's son Steuart Walton was elected to the board and is the first member of the Walton family's third generation to join the company's leadership in 2016.

What Is Jim Walton's Interest in Charter Schools?

Through the Walton Family Foundation, Jim and his sister Alice have spearheaded a project established as the Charter Impact Fund to provide long-term, fixed-rate loans to high-performing charter schools around the country.

What Is Community Publishers Inc.?

Jim Walton was the chair of Community Publishers Inc., founded in 1982 as a community newspaper and commercial printer supporting publications in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. His father, Sam Walton, acquired the Benton County Daily Record, and Jim Walton expanded its presence through CPI until its sale to Berkshire Hathaway in 2015.

The Bottom Line

As the youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Jim Walton has contributed to his family business for decades. He serves as chair of the family's Arvest Bank Group and plays an active role in the Walton Family Foundation.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. Forbes. "Jim Walton."

  2. Walmart. "Corporate History."

  3. Bloomberg. "The 25 Richest Families in the World."

  4. Arvest. "Arvest History."

  5. Walton Family Foundation. "Our Mission."

  6. Talk Business. "Community Publishers Set to Close."

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