Costco vs Walmart: Founders, CEOs and History
Costco was founded in 1983 by James D. Sinegal, Jeffrey H. Brotman and is led by Ron Vachris. Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and is led by John Furner.
Company facts
Founders
Costco
James D. Sinegal
Costco Wholesale possesses a unique founding story, emerging from the hyper-competitive retail environment of the Pacific Northwest and built upon a foundational realization about consumer psychology.
Jeffrey H. Brotman
Jeffrey H. Brotman co-founded Costco in 1983 and served for decades as chairman and a guiding board presence.
Walmart
Sam Walton
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.
CEOs and their tenures
Costco
- James D. Sinegal1983–2011
CEO
Co-founder who set Costco's low-markup, limited-SKU, employee-first operating code.
Source - Craig Jelinek2012–2023
CEO
CEO who scaled Costco globally and added digital and delivery options without changing the model.
Source - Ron Vachris2024–present
CEO
Current President and CEO; a Costco lifer who started as a Price Club forklift driver in 1982.
Source
Walmart
- Sam Walton1962–1988
Founder and CEO
Founded Walmart and set its low-price, low-cost operating approach.
Source - Doug McMillon2014–2026
Former President and CEO
Led Walmart's push into ecommerce, marketplace, advertising, and store-fulfilled delivery, and oversaw the Jet.com, Flipkart, and VIZIO deals.
Source - Greg Penner2015–present
Chairman of the Board
Chairs Walmart's board; he is Sam Walton's grandson-in-law and a member of the Walton family.
Source - John David Rainey2022–present
Executive Vice President and CFO
Leads finance and also oversees customer service and energy functions.
Source - John Furner2026–present
President and CEO
Became President and CEO on February 1, 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon. He reshaped the executive team with internal promotions in January 2026.
Source - David Guggina2026–present
President and CEO, Walmart U.S.
Succeeded John Furner as head of Walmart U.S., the company's largest segment.
Source
Timeline: Costco and Walmart side by side
1962Walmart
First Walmart Opens
Sam Walton opens the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas.
1970Walmart
Walmart Goes Public
Walmart sells shares to the public to fund expansion.
1983Costco
First Costco Warehouse Opens in Seattle
James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle in September 1983. The store gave the new company a direct test of the membership warehouse idea: fewer choices, bulk sizes, lower markups, and fast inventory movement.
1983Walmart
Sam's Club Launches
The first Sam's Club warehouse club opens in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
1985Costco
First Canadian Warehouse and Public Listing
Costco opened its first Canadian warehouse in Burnaby, British Columbia, and offered public stock in December 1985. The year mattered because the young chain proved it could expand beyond its original U.S.
1988Walmart
First Supercenter and New CEO
Walmart opens its first supercenter, and David Glass succeeds Sam Walton as CEO.
1993Costco
Price Club Merger Creates PriceCostco
Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, creating PriceCostco. Costco says the combined company had 206 locations and $16B in annual sales, which gave the warehouse-club model broader geographic reach and stronger supplier use.
1995Costco
Kirkland Signature and Gasoline Become Growth Tools
Kirkland Signature was introduced in 1995, the same year Costco opened its first gas station in Tucson, Arizona. Together, private label and fuel strengthened the member cost advantage by adding visible savings beyond ordinary grocery and general merchandise.
1997Costco
Executive Membership Is Introduced
Executive Membership launched in 1997, adding a higher-value tier for members who spend more. The tier later became central to renewal economics; in FY2025 Executive members represented 73.6% of worldwide net sales.
1998Costco
Costco.com Brings the Model Online
Costco launched e-commerce at Costco.com in 1998. The move mattered because it gave members online access to selected products and services while keeping the digital business narrower than a marketplace model.
1999Costco
Name Changes to Costco Wholesale Corporation
After the PriceCostco and Costco Companies periods, the company adopted the Costco Wholesale Corporation name on August 30, 1999. The change gave the public company the corporate identity it still uses today.
2000Walmart
Lee Scott Becomes CEO
Lee Scott succeeds David Glass as CEO.
2014Walmart
Doug McMillon Becomes CEO
Doug McMillon, who started as an hourly associate in 1984, becomes CEO.
2016Walmart
Jet.com Acquisition
Walmart buys Jet.com for about $3.3 billion to strengthen its U.S. ecommerce team.
2018Walmart
Flipkart Investment
Walmart acquires a majority stake in Flipkart for about $16 billion.
2020Costco
Innovel Acquisition Adds Last-Mile Capacity
Costco acquired Innovel Solutions in 2020 for $1B to strengthen delivery and installation for large and bulky items. The deal mattered because e-commerce growth in appliances, furniture, and similar categories depends on execution after checkout.
2024Costco
Ron Vachris Becomes CEO
Ron Vachris became President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2024, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer.
2024Walmart
VIZIO Acquisition
Walmart completes its $2.3 billion purchase of smart-TV maker VIZIO to expand its advertising business.
2025Costco
$275.2B Revenue and 914 Warehouses
Costco reported FY2025 revenue of $275.2B, net income of $8.1B and 914 warehouses at fiscal year-end, the first full year after the September 2024 membership fee increase.
2026Costco
$303.2B Revenue and 939 Warehouses
Costco reported FY2026 total revenue of $303.2B and net income of $9.23B, with 84.1M paid members and a 92.3% U.S. and Canada renewal rate. It also received its first IEEPA tariff refunds in Q4.
2026Walmart
John Furner Becomes CEO
John Furner succeeds Doug McMillon as President and CEO effective February 1, 2026; David Guggina takes over Walmart U.S.
2026Walmart
Q2 FY27 Results
Walmart reports Q2 FY27 revenue of $187.9 billion, up 5.9%, and raises full-year sales and operating income guidance.
Acquisitions
Questions about Costco vs Walmart
Who is the CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc.?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is led by Ron Vachris and Walmart Inc. is led by John Furner. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Costco Wholesale Corporation founded vs Walmart Inc.?
Walmart Inc. was founded in 1962 — 21 years before Costco Wholesale Corporation, which was founded in 1983. Walmart Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Costco Wholesale Corporation.
How many employees does Costco Wholesale Corporation have compared to Walmart Inc.?
Costco Wholesale Corporation employs approximately 341,000 people, while Walmart Inc. employs approximately 2,100,000. Walmart Inc. has the larger workforce at 2,100,000 employees, compared to Costco Wholesale Corporation's 341,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc. headquartered?
Both Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc.?
Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded by James D. Sinegal, Jeffrey H. Brotman. Walmart Inc. was founded by Sam Walton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Costco Wholesale Corporation or Walmart Inc.?
Walmart Inc. has been operating for approximately 64 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Costco Wholesale Corporation has been in operation for around 43 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Costco vs Walmart overview