Hailing from a family having a successful business, running on the track of growth, seems to be a privilege that everyone aspires. But there are people who belong to the opposite class and wish to create their individual recognition, starting from scratch. Similar is the story of Jim Walton, the youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton and chairman of the family's Arvest Bank, which today boasts assets of more than $20 billion.

 

Jim never thought of joining his father’s business, despite struggles creating a living on his own, but had to join it following the death of his brother and no surviving heir.

 

Jim was a talented personality from the very start, which he showcased during his schooling at Bentonville High School, serving as his junior class’ president. After his school, he joined the football team and played at all-state levels as well as learned flying a plane. After this, he graduated with BA (Marketing)joined the University of Arkansas in 1971 and started working at an entry-level in his father’s business, Walmart. With an experience of 4 years, he learned a lot about the business and moved to the family corporation, the Walmart Enterprises, in 1975.

 

Jim’s brother, John Walton served as the director of Walmart, whose death in 2005 caused uncertainty in the family. However, Jim was chosen to take over the position due to his talent and professional experience with the business.

 

Since Jim was willing to create an individual identification, he entered the banking line and began his career with the teller job at Bank of Pea Ridge. Investing dedication and commitment to work, Jim quickly climbed the ladder of success in the corporate world and purchased the daily newspaper of Bentonville from his father, to co-found the Community Publishers Inc in 1982. He directed the company to make it one among the country’s largest publishing firms with an operation of 20 newspapers.

 

He also joined Arvest Bank, a part of the Walmart corporation as its chairman & CEO and expanded its initial business to 260 locations across over 100 communities of Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. In 2013, Jim succeeded in a deal with Bank of America and purchased 29 of its locations for his bank along with multiple customer satisfaction honors.

 

Jim sat on Walmart's board for more than a decade before yielding the seat to his son, Steuart, in June 2016. He acquired the bulk of his wealth from his association with Walmart. Walmart operates more than 11,500 stores worldwide, bringing in more than half a trillion dollars in revenue.

Jim Walton also heads the regional bank Arvest Bank Group and is chairman of the board for Community Publishers, which puts out several local newspapers in the southern United States.

 

Jim and sister Alice are also spearheading a program that will issue $300 million in bonds to help charter schools invest in facilities.

 

On a personal front, Jim is a private man, married to Lynn McNabb. The couple lives with their four children in Bentonville Arkansas. Although most of his life has been dedicated to the control and expansion of the Walton family business, yet he moved out of this definition and gained recognition out of Walmart as well. Jim arrived in the limelight for his contributions to extremist politicians & causes in Arkansas, at the state level, in 2012.

As of Feb. 15, 2021, Forbes ranked him as the 8th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $67.3 billion.

 

Thus, with a target in mind and a desire to thrive, Jim passed through various obstacles and struggles, achieving success for his family business of Walmart along with his own established firm.