Walton vs Buffett

Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway.

The differences

Forbes puts Warren Buffett about $9B ahead of Rob Walton.Forbes figures from 17 Oct 2026 and 17 Oct 2026.
Rob Walton: inherited it. Warren Buffett: built it up.
Warren Buffett has signed the Giving Pledge; Rob Walton has not.

Put someone else on either side

Walton

Buffett

Net worth, Forbes: $142BForbes, 17 Oct 2026; $151BForbes, 17 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $144BBloomberg, 17 Oct 2026; $147BBloomberg, 9 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 12Real-Time list, 17 Oct 2026; No. 9Annual list, 1 Mar 2026
Billionaire since: Not stated; Not stated

How it started: Inherited itSon of Walmart founder Sam Walton; joined Walmart in 1969 and chaired it from 1992 to 2015; Built it upDid not found Berkshire Hathaway: his investment partnership (BPL) began buying its shares in 1962 and took control in May 1965; Forbes lists him as self-made
Main source: Walmart stock held through Walton Enterprises and the Walton Family Holdings TrustBloomberg: 'The majority of Rob Walton's fortune is derived from Walmart'; Berkshire Hathaway stockBloomberg: 'The majority of Warren Buffett's fortune is derived from his interest in Berkshire Hathaway'; the 10-K describes Berkshire as a holding company in insurance, freight rail, utilities and energy, manufacturing, services and retailing
Companies: WalmartWalmart: Retired chairman; left the board in 2024; Berkshire HathawayBerkshire Hathaway: Chairman Emeritus and director (since September 18, 2026)
Biggest stake: WalmartStake not stated; Berkshire Hathaway13.2% owned

Born: Not stated; 30 Aug 1930Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Country: United StatesLives in Bentonville, Arkansas, United States; United StatesLives in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Education: Graduate degreeBA, University of Arkansas; JD, Columbia University; Graduate degreeBachelor's degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
Parents: Son of Sam and Helen Walton, who opened a five-and-dime store in Arkansas in 1950 and later created Walmart; His father, Howard, worked in the investment business and was elected to Congress in 1942; his paternal grandparents had a grocery business

Giving Pledge: Not a signer; Signed in 2010Co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation: Rob Walton FoundationSeparate from the family-wide Walton Family Foundation; Berkshire stock gifts to the Gates Foundation and four family foundationsSince 2006 he has given Berkshire stock to the Gates Foundation and to the Susan Thompson Buffett, Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett and NoVo foundations
Lifetime giving: Not stated; $72BForbes, 15 Sep 2026. Forbes: 'So far he has given away more than $72 billion, mostly through the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations'. The Gates Foundation reports $47.9 billion from him through 2025

Role now: RetiredRetired chairman of Walmart; owner in the Denver Broncos' Walton-Penner ownership group; On the boardChairman Emeritus and director of Berkshire Hathaway
Successor: Greg Penner, his son-in-law, is Walmart's non-executive chairman; John Furner is president and CEOSteuart Walton is a director, not an executive. The Delaware court opinion identifies Penner as his son-in-law; Greg Abel (CEO since January 1, 2026); Howard G. Buffett (chairman since September 18, 2026)The company notices give the roles but don't state Howard Buffett's relationship to him
Public office: None found; None found
Legal record: None found; None found