John Menard Jr.’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $10.5 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $11.5 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $14.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $16.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $17.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $25.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $22.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $19.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $15.5 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
John Menard Jr.’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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John Menard Jr. has an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, John Menard Jr. profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $10.5 billion in 2019.
John Menard Jr. is an American businessman best known for founding and owning Menards, a chain of home improvement stores in the middle of the U.S. He built his fortune in retail and is considered self-made by Forbes. Before Menards became a major player, he started a construction business in 1958. After graduating college in 1963, he turned down a job at IBM and stayed focused on building his own company.
He opened his first hardware store in 1964 and expanded it into a large regional business. Forbes says Menards brings in an estimated $13 billion in sales from more than 340 stores, with locations stretching from Wyoming to West Virginia. The chain competes with Home Depot and Lowe's. Menard is also known for a hands-on management style. Outside retail, he spent nearly 40 years involved in racing and sponsored the winning car at the 2019 Indy 500.
How John Menard Jr. built his fortune
Menard made his money in home improvement retail. He first ran a construction business and also made agricultural buildings before moving into hardware. That early start helped him build Menards well before many national rivals arrived. Forbes says the company now produces an estimated $13 billion in sales from more than 340 stores. Its footprint is concentrated in the middle of the U.S., from Wyoming to West Virginia.
His wealth is tied closely to the business he founded and still controls. Menards competes with Home Depot and Lowe's, but Menard kept the company centered on its own regional strength. Forbes notes that he has a reputation for closely managing operations, including requiring even top executives to punch a time clock every morning. That tight control has been a defining part of how he has run the company for decades.
Forbes net worth updates
Forbes has tracked large swings in Menard's fortune over time. It estimated his net worth at $10.5 billion in 2019, then $11.5 billion in 2020, $14.2 billion in 2021, and $16.6 billion in 2022. The estimate rose again to $17.4 billion in 2023 and reached $25.2 billion in 2024. Those changes followed the value tied to his privately held home improvement business.
More recently, the Forbes estimate moved lower. Forbes put his fortune at $22.9 billion in 2025 and $19.4 billion in 2026. On Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker, he was at $15.5 billion as of October 20, 2026. Even with that drop, his wealth still comes from the same core asset: Menards, the retailer he started after choosing his own business path instead of taking the IBM job in 1963.
Career and money timeline
- 1958
He started a construction business.
- 1963
After college, he turned down a job at IBM.
- 1964
He opened his first hardware store.
- 2019
He sponsored the winning car at the Indy 500.
- 2024
Forbes estimated his net worth at $25.2 billion.
- 2026
Forbes valued him at $19.4 billion on its billionaires list.
John Menard Jr. net worth FAQ
What is John Menard Jr.'s net worth?
John Menard Jr.'s net worth is an estimated $15.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, John Menard Jr. profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did John Menard Jr. get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Home improvement stores.
How has John Menard Jr.'s net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $10.5 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $15.5 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company made John Menard Jr. rich?
His fortune comes from Menards, the home improvement chain he founded and owns. Forbes says the business generates an estimated $13 billion in sales from more than 340 stores.
Is John Menard Jr. self-made?
Yes. Forbes describes him as self-made. He began with a construction business in 1958 before building Menards into a major retailer.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, John Menard Jr. profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, John Menard Jr. profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, John Menard Jr. profile (April 8, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, John Menard Jr. profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, John Menard Jr. profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, John Menard Jr. profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, John Menard Jr. profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, John Menard Jr. profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, John Menard Jr. profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, John Menard Jr. (accessed October 21, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.