Despite their immense wealth, the Walton family remains surprisingly private. They don’t flaunt luxury or chase headlines like some billionaires do, but their quiet business moves have left a huge mark — especially in professional sports.
In 2022, the family made history by buying the NFL’s Denver Broncos for a record $4.7 billion. The team is now led by Greg Penner, who is married to Sam Walton’s granddaughter and serves as the Broncos’ CEO.
But that purchase was only one piece of the family’s sports empire. Through Ann Walton Kroenke’s marriage to Stan Kroenke, their influence now spans across multiple leagues and continents. Kroenke owns a lineup of powerhouse teams, including Arsenal in the Premier League, the LA Rams in the NFL, the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, and the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL — with the latter held under Ann’s name.
Los Angeles Rams owner Stanley Kroenke has shares in six major sports clubs himselfAndy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
And the list doesn’t end there. Kroenke also owns the Colorado Mammoth, a National Lacrosse League team, rounding out an extraordinary sports portfolio that few families could ever match.
According to Forbes, the breakdown of the family’s wealth is just as impressive: Rob Walton & Family are worth $123.8 billion; Jim Walton & Family, $121.2 billion; Alice Walton, $112.5 billion; Lukas Walton, $41.8 billion; Christy Walton, $20.7 billion; Nancy Walton Laurie, $16.6 billion; Ann Walton Kroenke, $13.2 billion; and Stanley Kroenke, $21.3 billion.
That makes eight members of the same family billionaires in their own right — and their children are already following suit, ensuring that the Walton-Kroenke legacy continues to grow for generations.
While Walmart remains the foundation of their fortune, the Waltons have spent the last few years expanding into new industries — with sports, media, and real estate now forming key pillars of their ever-expanding empire. The combination of family wealth and business strategy has quietly made them one of the most powerful dynasties in the world.
