Christy Walton

Entering into a family with a long line of well-known generous advocates, Christy Walton held her own as a distinguished member of the Walton legacy. Profiled by Condé Nast Portfolio magazine in The Giving Index, she ranked as the highest female philanthropist according to the amount she gives as a percentage of her wealth. At a then estimated $16.3 billion net worth, she contributed a total of $3.5 million cumulatively between 2002 and 2006. She is actively serving in numerous non-profit organizations, such as the national association of trustees and staff, corporate giving officers, and individual donors – The Philanthropy Roundtable.

Together with the rest of the family, she financially supports The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation that prioritizes education. Among the grateful recipients are the University of Arkansas ($300 million in 2002), the College of Business Administration of the University of Arkansas ($50 million in 1998, renamed to Sam M. Walton College of Business), as well as several other local colleges, community trusts, universities and foundations. In 2007, the Bentonville-based Walton Family Foundation, one of the nation’s largest charitable organizations, gave up to $1.6 billion.

With her husband, John, she became an honouree of the Patrons of the Prado Gala on July 16. This event seeks to benefit museums in Balboa Park.

Christy Walton is also a board member of The San Diego Natural History Museum. This institution, as well as The San Diego Zoological Society and The Mingei International Museum, are proud recipients of her benevolence.

Another commendable donation is in the form of her own old Victorian home, which she gave to the International Community Foundation’s (ICF) Center for Cross-Border Philanthropy. Built in 1896 for former National City postmaster Oliver Noyes in 1896, this historical beauty underwent renovation in 1989. Christy Walton and her husband presented this transformational gift to ICF in 2006, along with a recent $4 million endowment for the edifice’s preservation. The ICF has taken it upon itself to assist U.S.-based donors who wish to make a difference in non-profit causes overseas with special interest in community-based health care, environment, and education.

Today, Christy Walton has a net worth of $17.6 billion, which she inherited upon the death of her husband, John, in 2005. The 12th highest among Forbes’ exclusive list of The World’s Billionaires, she continues to benefit from the status of the family business as the reigning World’s Largest Retailer.