Walmart Inc. — Key Facts
| Founded | July 2, 1962 |
| Founder | Sam Walton |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: WMT |
| Headquarters | Bentonville, Arkansas, USA |
| Controlling Owner | Walton Family (~46% of shares) |
| CEO | Doug McMillon |
| Annual Revenue | ~$648 billion (FY2024) |
Walmart Inc. is the world’s largest company by revenue and the world’s largest private employer, with over 2.3 million associates globally. Founded by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962, Walmart revolutionized retail with its “everyday low prices” strategy and sophisticated supply chain. The company operates more than 10,500 stores under 46 banners in 24 countries, and its US operations include Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club warehouse stores, and Walmart.com.
Who Owns Walmart?
Walmart is publicly traded (NYSE: WMT), but it is uniquely controlled by the Walton family — the descendants of founder Sam Walton — who collectively hold approximately 46% of Walmart’s shares through Walton Enterprises LLC and the Walton Family Holdings Trust. This makes the Waltons one of the wealthiest families in the world, with a combined net worth regularly estimated above $200 billion. Despite the family’s dominant stake, Walmart is governed by a public board of directors and operates with full public company governance and reporting requirements. The remaining ~54% of shares are publicly traded and held by institutional and retail investors.
The Walton Family
Sam Walton passed away in April 1992. His wife Helen Walton passed in 2007. The family’s Walmart stake is primarily held by his children: Rob Walton (former Walmart Chairman, now co-owner of the Denver Broncos NFL team), Jim Walton (Chairman of Arvest Bank), Alice Walton (philanthropist and founder of Crystal Bridges Museum), and the estate of their late brother John Walton. The Walton family is collectively the richest family in the United States.
Walmart’s Global Footprint
Beyond its US operations (4,700+ Walmart and Sam’s Club locations), Walmart owns a majority stake in Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce marketplace (acquired 2018, ~$16 billion). It also operates Walmart International with major businesses in Canada (Walmart Canada), Chile, Central America, China (through its stake in JD.com and Walmart China stores), South Africa (Massmart), and Mexico (Walmex — the largest subsidiary by store count). Walmart’s e-commerce division has grown significantly, with global digital sales exceeding $100 billion annually.
