Jim Walton Net Worth

Jim Walton has an estimated net worth of $138 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Jim Walton profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $44.6 billion in 2019.

Jim Walton is an American businessman tied to the Walmart fortune. He is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the company’s founder. After earning a business administration degree from the University of Arkansas in 1971, he joined Walmart in 1972 and worked on real estate matters. In 1975, he moved to Walton Enterprises and became president. His career later expanded beyond retail into banking and publishing through family-owned businesses.

Much of Walton’s wealth comes from the family’s large Walmart stake. Forbes says he and other heirs of Sam Walton collectively own about 45% of the company’s stock. He also serves as chairman of Arvest Bank Group, which has $28 billion in assets. Walton spent more than a decade on Walmart’s board after joining it in 2005. In 2016, he gave up that seat and his son Steuart took over.

How Jim Walton built his fortune

Walton’s money story starts with Walmart, the retail giant founded by his father. He joined the company in 1972 and worked on its real estate side before moving to Walton Enterprises in 1975. That family holding company became a key part of his business path. Forbes places him in Fashion & Retail, and the main driver of his fortune is the family’s long-held ownership in Walmart shares.

His work has also centered on family-controlled companies outside Walmart. Walton was chief executive of Arvest Bank before becoming chairman, and Forbes says the bank group has $28 billion in assets. He also chaired Community Publishers Inc. Alongside that, he served on Walmart’s board from 2005 until 2016. Those roles show a career built around overseeing major family businesses, with retail ownership still doing most of the heavy lifting.

Forbes net worth snapshot

Forbes estimated Walton’s wealth at $44.6 billion in 2019, then $54.6 billion in 2020 and $60.2 billion in 2021. It rose again to $66.2 billion in 2022 before dropping to $58.8 billion in 2023. Across those years, the core picture stayed the same: his wealth was tied mainly to Walmart, where he and other heirs together held about 45% of the stock.

The estimate climbed to $78.4 billion in 2024 and then $109 billion in 2025. Forbes put him at $143 billion on its 2026 World’s Billionaires list, while the real-time tracker showed $138 billion in October 2026. That swing highlights how closely his fortune moves with the value of Walmart shares. Banking adds another business interest, but the retailer remains the center of the story.