The world of great fortunes and the richest people are usually full of well-known names, such as Amancio or Marta Ortega. However, there are personalities who, despite accumulating incalculable wealth, remain in the shadows, especially in some countries. This is the case of Alice Louise Walton, one of the richest women in the world, with a fortune estimated at 76 billion eurosDespite its colossal heritage, it remains virtually unknown to many in Spain.
When you think of the most powerful women on the planet, names like Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal heiress, or MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife. However, Alice Walton has managed to surpass many of her contemporaries, positioning herself as the richest woman in the world. Her fortune comes mainly from Walmart, the retail giant founded by his father, Sam WaltonSince its first store in Arkansas, Walmart has grown into the world’s largest supermarket chain and one of the most valuable companies.
This was the millionaire’s trajectory.
Born in Arkansas in 1949Alice Walton is Sam Walton’s only daughter and the youngest of four children. From a young age, she has shown a different interest than her brothers, who quickly become involved in the family business. Alice preferred to follow her own path and after graduating with a degree in economics from Trinity University in San Antonioventured into the world of finance. Her career included positions as a financial analyst and broker and she became vice president of the Arvest Bank group, before founding her own investment company, Llama Company, where she served as President and CEO.
Contrary to his brothers Rob and Jimwho were more involved in the direct management of WalmartThe protagonist of our news has remained away from the day-to-day administration of the retail empire. However, his shareholding remains significant, with the Walton family retaining about 50% of the company’s shares, ensuring that Alice receives significant annual dividends.
Alice’s impressive art collection
Over the years, Alice developed a deep passion for art. His interest began at a young age; it is said that during family camps, while his brothers explored nature, the businesswoman and her mother devoted themselves to watercolor painting. At only ten years old, he bought his first work of art, a reproduction of Picasso’s “Blue Nude”, for only 25 cents in a store. WalmartThis first contact with art was the beginning of a passion that would lead her to become one of the most important collectors in the world.
During the 1970s, Alice Walmart began acquiring watercolors by American artists, and by the 1990s her collection had grown exponentially. Today, her works are worth an estimated $500 million and include artists such as Andy WarholEdward Hopper, Norman Rockwell, Mark Rothko and Georgia O’Keeffe.
With her extensive collection, Alice has not only collected valuable pieces, but also sought to share her passion with the public. In 2011, founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in BentonvilleArkansas. This museum not only houses his impressive art collection, but also has a library with more than 50,000 volumesOne of the museum’s architectural gems is the Bachman-Wilson House, designed by the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright, which Alice had dismantled and rebuilt on the museum grounds.
To its own foundation
Alice Walton is not only known for her wealth and passion for art. Throughout her life, she demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy, a tradition instilled by her parents. The Walton Family Foundation, in which Alice plays an active role, funds education, environmental and economic development projects.. Additionally, in 2017, Alice launched her own foundation, the Alice Walton Foundation, focused on promoting access to art and education, as well as supporting health-related projects.
Despite his fortune and success, Alice’s life has not been without its difficulties. In his youth, he struggled with alcohol problems, which led to several road accidents. Over the years, he also experienced brief marriages that did not last. However, Alice was able to focus on her passions, such as horses, one of her great hobbies. For years, he raised racehorses on his ranch in Texas.
Today, at your 74 years oldAlice Walton remains a discreet and influential figure in the worlds of business, art and philanthropy. Her wealth, which exceeds GDP hailing from many countries, puts her in a unique position to influence multiple areas of society. However, despite her status as the world’s richest woman, she prefers to keep a low profile.
