Lukas Walton Net Worth & Biography

Lukas Walton Net Worth & Biography

American billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Lukas Walton, is popular for being one of the grandchildren of Sam Walton, the genius who established the global retail giant ‘Walmart’. Lukas is the serving director of the ‘Walton Family Foundation’ which is focused on promoting education and protecting rivers and oceans. The family-led foundation also contributes toward things like healthcare and community development, and the Waltons have donated over $2 billion to the foundation since 2007. Asides from being a philanthropist, Lukas is also known for being an active investor. He has been part of the American venture capital firm ‘True North Venture Partners’ and has invested in Arvest Bank, Walmart, and First Solar. He is currently a partner at a private equity firm ‘Cuna del Mar’ that specializes in investing in aquaculture. Find more details as you carry on with reading this article.

Early Life: Childhood, Family, Education

He was born Lukas Tyler Walton in 1986, to John and Christy Walton. When he was 3 years old, Lukas was diagnosed with an uncommon kidney cancer that later spread to his lungs. Nevertheless, he miraculously recovered from the ailment within 6 months. Although he was a member of one of the richest families in America, Lukas grew up in the simple, low-class town of National City in California. His mother, Christy, wanted to let him have the experience of living in a common American household. Following the passing of his father, his family left California and moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and their home in National City home was then converted to a non-profit organization.

Lukas father, John T Walton, worked at the family’s business ‘Walmart’ for a period of time but decided to pursue other things such as flying crop-dusters over cotton fields throughout the country. He also served the US Army as a pilot and later co-founded a company named ‘Satloc’, before founding his last company ‘Corsair Marine,’ which built trimaran sailboats. John died in a plane crash that took place on June 27, 2005. He was piloting the home-built aircraft when the crash happened. Following his death, his wife, Christy, Lukas’s mother, inherited his $18.2 billion fortune which instantly made her the richest woman alive (although this information was later revealed to be false in 2015 after court documents mentioned Lukas as the only heir to his late father’s fortune).

For his education, Lukas attended Journeys School and later moved to Colorado College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmentally sustainable business, graduating in 2010. He lived in Reykjavik, Iceland for a short period and studied energy efficiency and hydrological/geothermal energy there.

Professional Life: Entrepreneurial Career

After graduating from college, Lukas Walton found a position at a venture capital firm, True North Venture Partners, which was founded by Michael J Ahearn. Michael later became the firm’s managing partner. He is also a former president and partner of ‘JWMA,’ the investment company he had co-founded with John Walton, Lukas’s father.

Apart from what he owns at Walmart, Lukas also owns stakes in a number of companies such as Arvest Bank and First Solar.

Philanthropy

Lukas is the chairman of the Walton Family Foundation’s Environment Program Committee. The foundation was established by Sam Walton and his wife Helen in 1987 out of their philanthropic interest. The company mainly focuses on freshwater and marine conservation, K-12 education reform, and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life in the Arkansas region. Its headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, and it has offices in Denver, Colorado; Washington; and Jersey City, New Jersey. Lukas’s philanthropic interests have led to cash donations of more than two billion dollars so far. As the chairman of his committee, he aims to bring in exclusive ways in the industry that can assist the foundation to achieve its objectives.

As an investor, Lukas believes in improving the quality of life everywhere without jeopardizing the health of the planet. The foundation has donated $8 million to Alliance for School Choice from 2005 to 2010, $9 million to College of Wooster from 2003 to 2005, and $17 million to John Brown University from 1998 to 2006. It has also donated $53 million to the Environmental Defense Fund from 2004 to 2012, $15 million to the University of the Ozarks from 1998 to 2006, and $4 million to the University of California San Diego Foundation from 2003 to 2007. Other donations made by the Lukas-led foundation include $90 million to Marine Conservation from 2011 to 2013, and $50 million to the Children’s Scholarship Fund from 2009 to 2013.

Additionally, the Walton family established the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Achievements: Awards & Honors

Although Lukas has never bagged any noteworthy awards throughout his life, he has made his name known by actively being a part of his family’s philanthropic foundation while also making notable investments in many businesses and organizations within the United States. He is one of the richest men in the world and has been ranked 32 on the Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest people in America.

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index ranked Lukas 57th among the World’s 500 Richest People, and Forbes ranked him 127th on the “Forbes list of billionaires” worldwide in 2021.

Personal Life: Wife, Residence

Lukas has always maintained a low profile in the media, and not so much is known about his personal life. However, his marriage to Samantha Walton is not a secret. She along with her husband have been listed as co-presidents in the Builders Initiative, which is a foundation owned by the Walton family

He lives in Chicago, Illinois, and Jackson, Wyoming.

Lukas Walton Net Worth: Salary, Income Sources, Investments

Mr. Lukas Walton’s net worth is pegged at $18 billion by various online sources. An American businessman and investor, Lukas is best known to many people for being an heir of the reputed Walmart chain of stores which is known to be one of the world’s biggest businesses.

Despite the fact that not much has been revealed about him in the media, reputable sources have confirmed that in addition to his Walmart shares, Mr. Lukas also owns stakes in companies like First Solar and Arvest Bank. He owns 4 percent of Walmart and controls his investment through the Walton Family Holdings Trust. He is also credited with a third of the shares in the umbrella company Walton Enterprises. His inheritance was determined when court documents were revealed in 2015, more than a decade after his father passed away. He is credited with 8 percent of Arvest Bank and 16 percent of First Solar. According to recent news, following the passing of his father, Lukas had inherited double the amount his mother had inherited. As of December 2021, he is listed as the richest person living in the state of Illinois.