Hilton vs Walmart: Founders, CEOs and History
Hilton was founded in 1919 by Conrad Nicholson Hilton and is led by Christopher J. Nassetta. Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and is led by John Furner.
Company facts
Founders
Hilton
Conrad Nicholson Hilton
Hilton possesses a well-known, American founding story, rooted in the economic boom of the early Texas oil fields and the ambitious, optimistic vision of a single entrepreneur who essentially invented the modern concept of the global hotel chain.
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
Hilton
- Conrad N. Hilton1919–1966
Founder, President and Chairman
He bought the Waldorf-Astoria in 1949 and the Statler chain in 1954. His son Barron succeeded him as president in 1966.
Source - Barron Hilton1966–1996
Former President and Chief Executive Officer
Barron Hilton proved to be an effective, capable successor who navigated the company through cultural and economic shifts.
Source - Stephen Bollenbach1996–2007
Former Chief Executive Officer
Bollenbach modernized Hilton's archaic financial structures and accelerated its growth trajectory.
Source - Christopher J. Nassetta2007–present
Chief Executive Officer
Nassetta navigated Hilton through the devastating Global Financial Crisis and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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
He successfully managed the transition of corporate leadership to Doug McMillon and actively oversees the Walton family's controlling stake in the retail giant.
Source - John David Rainey2022–present
Executive Vice President and CFO
As CFO, he aggressively executed multi-billion-dollar share repurchases while funding massive capital expenditures for store remodels and automation.
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.
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.
Source
Timeline: Hilton and Walmart side by side
1919Hilton
Founding - Mobley Hotel Purchase
Conrad Hilton purchases the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas for $40,000, marking the formal founding of what will become Hilton Worldwide Holdings. The purchase was unplanned; Conrad had originally traveled to Cisco to buy a bank.
1925Hilton
First Purpose-Built Hilton Hotel
Conrad opens the first hotel built from the ground up bearing the Hilton name in Dallas, Texas, marking a transition from acquiring existing properties to developing new ones and formalizing the Hilton brand identity.
1943Hilton
Acquisition of the Stevens Hotel, Chicago
Hilton acquires the Stevens Hotel in Chicago - then the world's largest hotel with over 3,000 rooms - transforming the company from a regional Texas operator into a nationally recognized lodging company.
1946Hilton
Hilton Hotels Corporation Goes Public
Hilton Hotels Corporation lists on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming one of the first major hotel companies to access public capital markets and establishing a financial structure that would fund the company's continued national expansion.
1949Hilton
Waldorf Astoria Acquisition and International Debut
Conrad Hilton acquires the well-known Waldorf Astoria in New York City and opens the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico - the company's first international property. Both transactions cement Hilton's status as a premier global luxury brand.
1962Walmart
First Walmart Opens
Sam Walton opens the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas.
1964Hilton
International Division Spun Off
Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton International are formally separated, with the international operations becoming an independent company. This bifurcation persisted for decades and would eventually be reversed through acquisition in the 2000s.
1970Walmart
Walmart Goes Public
Walmart sells shares to the public to fund expansion.
1983Walmart
Sam's Club Launches
The first Sam's Club warehouse club opens in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
1988Walmart
First Supercenter and New CEO
Walmart opens its first supercenter, and David Glass succeeds Sam Walton as CEO.
1999Hilton
Acquisition of Promus Hotel Corporation
Hilton acquires Promus Hotel Corporation for approximately $3.7 billion, adding the Hampton Inn, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, and Homewood Suites brands to its portfolio - transforming Hilton into a multi-brand lodging company and expanding its focused-service…
1999Walmart
Asda Acquired
Walmart bought the British supermarket chain Asda in 1999 for about $10 billion.
2000Walmart
Lee Scott Becomes CEO
Lee Scott succeeds David Glass as CEO.
2007Hilton
Blackstone Group Leveraged Buyout
Blackstone Group acquires Hilton Hotels Corporation in a leveraged buyout valued at approximately $26 billion - the largest hotel acquisition in history at the time. Christopher Nassetta is installed as CEO.
2013Hilton
NYSE Relisting - Largest Hospitality IPO in History
Hilton Worldwide Holdings relists on the New York Stock Exchange in December 2013, raising approximately $2.35 billion in what was then the largest IPO in the history of the hospitality industry. The listing valued Hilton at approximately $19.7 billion.
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.
2017Hilton
Spinoff of Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations
Hilton completes the spinoff of Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations as separately traded public companies, completing its transition to a fully asset-light franchise and management fee model and returning significant real estate value to sharehold…
2018Walmart
Flipkart Investment
Walmart acquires a majority stake in Flipkart for about $16 billion.
2020Hilton
COVID-19 Pandemic - Deepest Revenue Shock in Company History
The COVID-19 pandemic causes system-wide Revenue Per Available Room to fall approximately 57% as global travel shuts down.
2024Hilton
Revenue Reaches $11.2 Billion, Pipeline Exceeds 500,000 Rooms
Hilton reports fiscal year 2024 revenues of approximately $11.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $3.3 billion, with the Hilton Honors program surpassing 190 million members and the global development pipeline exceeding 500,000 rooms under developme…
2024Walmart
VIZIO Acquisition
Walmart completes its $2.3 billion purchase of smart-TV maker VIZIO to expand its advertising business.
2025Hilton
9,000th Hotel and Record Openings
Hilton opened about 97,000 rooms, passed 9,000 hotels, entered markets including Tanzania, Rwanda, and Pakistan, and returned $3.3 billion to shareholders.
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
Hilton
- Graduate Hotels (brand)2024$210M
- NoMad Hotels (partnership with Sydell Group)2024Undisclosed
- Hilton International (from Ladbroke Group)2006$5.7B
- Promus Hotel Corporation1999$3.7B
Questions about Hilton vs Walmart
Who is the CEO of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Walmart Inc.?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is led by Christopher J. Nassetta 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 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. founded vs Walmart Inc.?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. was founded in 1919 — 43 years before Walmart Inc., which was founded in 1962. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Walmart Inc..
How many employees does Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. have compared to Walmart Inc.?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. employs approximately 182,000 people, while Walmart Inc. employs approximately 2,100,000. Walmart Inc. has the larger workforce at 2,100,000 employees, compared to Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.'s 182,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Walmart Inc. headquartered?
Both Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Walmart Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Walmart Inc.?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. was founded by Conrad Nicholson Hilton. Walmart Inc. was founded by Sam Walton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. or Walmart Inc.?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has been operating for approximately 107 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Walmart Inc. has been in operation for around 64 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 Hilton vs Walmart overview