How Wealthy Are Walmart Owners?

Bernie Sander, who hangs out (caucuses) with the Democrats but is an independent recently said, “Today the Walton family of Walmart own more wealth than the bottom 40% of America.” Sanders is fond of talking about the inequitable distribution of wealth in this country. And the Waltons are part of the 1%.

Bernie is right. The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances which reports on wealth every three years said in 2007 the median family net worth was $126,400; in 2010 it was $77,300. Not a good trend.

Here is where the Waltons fall on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans:

No. 6: Christy Walton, $25.3 billion

No. 9: Jim Walton, $23.7 billion
No. 10: Alice Walton, $23.3 billion
No. 11: S. Robson Walton, oldest son of Sam Walton, $23.1 billion
No. 103: Ann Walton Kroenke, $3.9 billion
No. 139: Nancy Walton Laurie, $3.4 billion

That’s a grand total of $102.7 billion for the whole family.

PolitiFact concurs with Bernie, the Waltons have wealth equal to the bottom 41.5% of families. The Walton wealth growth between 2007 and 2010 was 22%.

Have fun shopping at Walmart.