The only woman in the world to surpass $100 billion by 2025: Alice Walton is one of many heiresses on the list of richest women. In fact, she’s the world leader.
Alice Walton is the daughter of Walmart founder, Sam Walton, and is among the richest women in the world according to Forbes in 2025. Indeed, the renowned magazine identifies her as the richest woman globally, with an estimated net worth of about $105 billion. This ranking places her in 15th place in the world’s billionaires ranking.
Her fortune derives primarily from her share in the world’s leading retail chain, but she is also distinguished by her commitment to the arts and philanthropy. Here’s what we know today about Alice Walton’s net worth and the activities of the richest woman in the world.
Alice Walton’s Net Worth: Here’s How Much She Earns
As anticipated, according to Forbes, as of 2025, Alice Walton will be the richest woman in the world, with an estimated net worth of approximately $105 billion, the only billionaire to exceed $100 billion (a centibillionaire). Compared to 2024, her net worth has grown by almost $30 billion, thanks to a 40% increase in the value of Walmart shares she holds.
Alternative sources like Bloomberg (Bloomberg Billionaires Index) estimate an even more significant figure: just under $110 billion for Alice Walton, according to data from February 2025. Some Spanish media outlets estimate figures between $107 and $119 billion, taking into account the 53% increase in the value of Walmart shares. Whatever the source, she still holds the title of wealthiest woman.
Alice Walton and family: here’s where her impressive wealth comes from
Alice Walton’s wealth has clear, family origins and influences her current position. Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, distributed his stake equally among his children. Upon his death, this structure allowed for uniform and stable asset management, although not all children contribute equally to the company.
Alice is one of Sam Walton’s heirs, his only daughter. According to multi-year wealth data (reported by Wikipedia), the family fortune is divided between the brothers Rob Walton, with $119 billion, Jim Walton with $117.7 billion, and, of course, Alice. Their shared wealth comes from their shareholding in the multinational retail company.
Unlike her brothers, who have formal roles on the Walmart board, Alice has chosen a different path: a life dedicated to philanthropy, art, and cultural initiatives.
Who is Alice Walton and what does she do: a profile of the richest woman in the world
But who is Alice Walton, and what does the richest woman in the world do today? Born on October 7, 1949, in Newport, Arkansas, Alice Louise Walton graduated with a degree in economics from Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) in 1971. After a brief stint at Walmart as a children’s clothing buyer, she worked as a financial analyst in New Orleans before founding her own brokerage firm, Llama, in the 1980s, funded by family capital.
Beginning in 1998, she gradually left the financial world to devote herself to the arts. Over the past 25 years, philanthropic and cultural commitments have been central to her life.
She is the founder of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which opened in 2011 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Funded almost entirely by family trusts, the museum is now a significant cultural institution. Through the Art Bridges Foundation (established in 2016), she has donated hundreds of millions of dollars for the acquisition and lending of works of art to over 230 museums in the United States.
She helped fund the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, part of the Crystal Bridges campus, enriching its educational content with art, humanism, and principles of integrated health.
Despite holding a significant stake in Walmart, Alice Walton still remains distant from the company’s management. She prefers to focus on promoting the arts, philanthropy, and health and cultural education initiatives. Among all the great billionaires, she stands out for her strong social, educational, and artistic orientation, rather than for traditional economic activity.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è e quanto guadagna Alice Walton, la donna più ricca del mondo nel 2025
