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Walmart Inc.

RetailFounded 1962
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Walmart?

Sam Walton · Founded 1962 · HQ today: Bentonville, Arkansas

Who founded Walmart?

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, United States. It is now led by John Furner.

Founders
Sam Walton
Founded
1962
Headquarters
Bentonville, Arkansas
Number of founders
1
Current CEO
John Furner (since 2026)
Where was Walmart founded?
Walmart was founded in Rogers, Arkansas, United States in 1962. wikidata.org
When was Walmart founded?
Walmart was founded in 1962.
Who started Walmart?
Walmart was founded by Sam Walton.
How old is Walmart?
Walmart is 64 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Sam Walton ran a Ben Franklin variety-store franchise in Newport, Arkansas from 1945 and later opened Walton's 5&10 in Bentonville. In 1962 he opened the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas, betting that a discount store with low costs and high volume could win in small towns that larger chains ignored.

Sam Walton

Co-founder 1962

Background

Born in Oklahoma in 1918, Walton graduated from the University of Missouri and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He then ran a Ben Franklin variety-store franchise in Newport, Arkansas before moving to Bentonville.

Role at Walmart Inc.

Sam Walton opened the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 and built the company around low prices, low costs, and its own distribution network. He served as CEO until 1988 and remained chairman until his death in 1992. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992.

Education: David H. Hickman High School.

Samuel Moore Walton was born on March 29, 1918 and died of blood cancer on April 5, 1992, aged 74. He also co-founded Sam's Club in 1983. From 1982 to 1988 he was the richest person in the United States. He is buried in Bentonville, Arkansas. Sam Walton was born in 1918.

Walmart Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

John Furner

President and CEO

2026 – Present

Became President and CEO on February 1, 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon. He reshaped the executive team with internal promotions in January 2026.

David Guggina

President and CEO, Walmart U.S.

2026 – Present

As head of supply chain operations, he modernized the underlying logistics network that allowed Walmart to successfully compete with Amazon's two-day delivery speeds.

John David Rainey

Executive Vice President and CFO

2022 – Present

As CFO, he aggressively executed multi-billion-dollar share repurchases while funding massive capital expenditures for store remodels and automation.

Greg Penner

Chairman of the Board

2015 – Present

He successfully managed the transition of corporate leadership to Doug McMillon and actively oversees the Walton family's controlling stake in the retail giant.

Doug McMillon

Former President and CEO

2014 – 2026

Led Walmart's push into ecommerce, marketplace, advertising, and store-fulfilled delivery, and oversaw the Jet.com, Flipkart, and VIZIO deals.

Mike Duke

Chief Executive Officer

2009 – 2014

Mike Duke served as chief executive of Walmart Inc. from 2009 to 2014.

Lee Scott

Chief Executive Officer

2000 – 2009

Lee Scott served as chief executive of Walmart Inc. from 2000 to 2009.

David Glass

Chief Executive Officer

1988 – 2000

David Glass served as chief executive of Walmart Inc. from 1988 to 2000.

Sam Walton

Founder and CEO

1962 – 1988

Founded Walmart and set its low-price, low-cost operating approach.

Keep researching Walmart

Who Founded Walmart? FAQ

Who was Sam Walton and where was he born?

Samuel Moore Walton (1918–1992) was an American retail entrepreneur born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, who grew up in Missouri during the Great Depression before founding Walmart and Sam's Club.

Who was James "Bud" Walton and what role did he play in founding Walmart?

James L. "Bud" Walton (1921–1995) was Sam Walton's younger brother and business partner; he co-founded Walmart, contributed capital, managed store operations and real estate, and served as Senior Vice President.

Where did Sam Walton gain his early retail experience?

Sam trained at J.C. Penney in Des Moines, Iowa, served in the US Army during WWII, and operated a highly successful franchised Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas, starting in 1945.

What was Walton's 5&10 on the Bentonville downtown square?

Opened in 1950 after losing his Newport lease, Walton's 5&10 in Bentonville was Sam's prototype variety store; the building now serves as The Walmart Museum on Bentonville's historic town square.

What was Sam Walton's radical hypothesis when launching Walmart in 1962?

While established retailers (Kmart, Woolworth) believed discount stores could only survive in cities with over 50,000 residents, Walton proved that low-overhead discount stores could dominate small rural towns.

What role did Helen Walton play in the family business?

Helen Robson Walton was Sam's wife and essential partner; she insisted on living in small-town Bentonville, helped establish the Walton family partnership structure, and championed global education philanthropy.

What are Sam Walton's famous "10 Rules for Building a Business"?

Published in his 1992 autobiography *Made in America*, the rules emphasize committing to business, sharing profits with associates, motivating partners, communicating everything, appreciating associates, and swimming upstream.

When was Sam Walton awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

In March 1992, President George H.W. Bush presented Sam Walton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, recognizing his entrepreneurial spirit and service to consumers.

When did Sam Walton pass away and what were his final words?

Sam Walton died on April 5, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas, at age 74, shortly after receiving the Medal of Freedom and completing his bestselling autobiography.

What is the Walton Family Foundation and what does it support?

Established by Sam and Helen Walton, the philanthropic foundation has invested billions in K-12 education reform, environmental and freshwater conservation, and the cultural revitalization of Northwest Arkansas.

How much of Walmart is still owned by the Walton family?

Through Walton Enterprises LLC and Walton Family Holdings Trust, the Walton heirs (Rob, Jim, Alice, and Lukas Walton) collectively own approximately 45%–46% of Walmart's common stock.

What is the enduring cultural impact of Sam Walton on modern enterprise?

Sam Walton proved that customer obsession, continuous technological experimentation, frontline associate empowerment, and extreme operational cost discipline can build the largest enterprise on Earth.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.