Early Life and Education
Walter Wang was born on March 25, 1965, in Taiwan. His father, Wang Yung-ching, was the founder of Formosa Plastics Group, a prominent petrochemicals conglomerate. When Wang was nine years old, he moved to Berkeley, California, with his mother to be closer to his sister, Cher Wang. Wang attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Rise to Success
Wang began his career at Formosa Plastics in Taiwan as a factory machinery operator and later became an internal corporate consulting project leader. In 1990, he was transferred to J-M Manufacturing Co. Inc. (JM) as a sales coordinator. Wang's leadership led to significant growth, with annual sales increasing from $200 million in 1990 to over $1 billion in 2005. In 2005, Wang acquired 100 percent of J-M from Formosa Plastics. Subsequently, he acquired PW Eagle, forming JM Eagle, which reached combined annual sales of more than $1.6 billion. In 2024, Wang made his debut on the Forbes 400 list.
Key Business Strategies
Wang's success is attributed to his strategic vision and operational expertise. Under his leadership, JM Eagle focused on creating a one-stop shop for various plastic pipe applications, creating a strong market presence. JM Eagle has also created a network with 22 plants in North America.
Philanthropy
Walter Wang, along with his wife Shirley Wang, is involved in various philanthropic endeavors through the Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation and the JMM Foundation. They have supported numerous initiatives, including disaster relief, clean water projects, medical research, and educational programs. Wang is also dedicated to providing legal services to immigrant domestic violence survivors through donations to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.