Meet Walmart heir Lukas Walton, one of the richest millennials in the world: with a US$20 billion net worth at 36, he’s focusing on philanthropy over the retail empire his grandad Sam Walton founded

Nov 24 , 2022

Lukas Walton inherited a third of his father’s fortune and 4 per cent of Walmart, but he’s giving back in a big way. Photo: @ETFsStockPicker/ Twitter

Walmart founder Sam Walton is Lukas’ grandfather – the company remains the world’s largest employer and his descendants now have a net worth of US$247 billion in total

Lukas suffered tragedy when his dad John Walton died in a plane crash in 2005, inheriting most of his fortune, and has channelled his energy into charitable causes just like his father

With a combined net worth of US$247 billion, the Walton family is the wealthiest in the US. The company’s founder, Sam Walton, was well-known for having built their massive fortune – but he’s not the only member of the clan worth knowing about.

Lukas Walton is 36 years old and more interested in philanthropy than retail. Photo: @sanmonbunshi1/Twitter

Chicago-based billionaire Lukas Walton, 36, is one of Sam’s grandchildren – and one of the richest millennials in the world. However, life wasn’t always easy for the San Diego-born heir.

So who is Lukas Walton, what is his role in the Walmart empire, and how much has he inherited?

He is one of Walmart’s heir

Walmart is the largest retailer in the US and the founder’s family is now worth US$247 billion. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Born in 1986, Lukas Walton is the only child of Christy Walton and John T. Walton – the second-eldest son of Sam Walton, who established the Walmart empire.

According to Business Insider, the young heir attended Colorado College and majored in environmental science and economics. Forbes estimated his wealth to be US$20.5 billion and named him among the top 10 youngest American billionaires in 2022.

His dad tragically died in a plane crash

National Park rangers examine the debris from the ultralight aircraft crash that killed John Walton in 2005. Photo: Getty Images

Lukas lost his dad, John, at a relatively young age. The 58-year-old Vietnam veteran tragically passed away in 2005 when he reportedly crashed his home-made ultralight aircraft in Wyoming. At the time, Forbes ranked him 11th on its list of the world’s richest people.

Per Bloomberg, the young Lukas was the biggest beneficiary of his dad’s will. John left about one-sixth of his fortune to his wife, Christy, one-third to his only son, Lukas, and the rest to charitable trusts, Business Insider reported. As a result, Lukas inherited a 4 per cent stake in Walmart.