Early Life
Alice Louise Walton was born on October 7, 1949, in Newport, Arkansas. She grew up in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her three brothers. Her father, Sam Walton, founded Walmart, which would later transform the retail industry. Alice graduated from Bentonville High School in 1966 and went on to earn a B.A. in economics from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Rise to Success
Early in her career, Walton worked as an equity analyst and money manager for First Commerce Corporation and headed investment activities at Arvest Bank Group. She also served as a broker for EF Hutton. In 1988, she founded Llama Company, an investment bank, where she served as president, chairwoman, and CEO. Through Llama, she played a key role in the development of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Walton has also focused on her passion for art and philanthropy, rather than taking an active role in the family business. She is the founder of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which opened in 2011, and the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
Key Business Strategies
Alice Walton's focus has been on managing her family's wealth and contributing to philanthropy, particularly in arts and healthcare. She has strategically invested in various initiatives, including the establishment of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which gives access to American art to people who never had it. She also founded the Alice L. Walton Foundation, which supports programs in arts, education, health, and economic opportunity.
Philanthropy
Alice Walton has been deeply involved in philanthropy, contributing significantly to the arts and healthcare. She founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which houses her extensive art collection. She has also formed the Alice L. Walton Foundation in 2017 to focus on art, education, health, and improving economic opportunities. The Alice L. Walton Foundation has supported numerous grants and partnerships, including establishing the Whole Health Institute and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. She has historically directed $1.5 billion to the arts. She has also donated to fight food insecurity and to aid recovery after devastating wildfires. In 2024, the Alice L. Walton Foundation proposed a $239 million line of credit for sewer infrastructure upgrades in Bentonville.