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What is Nancy Walton Laurie’s Net Worth?
Nancy Walton Laurie, an American heiress and businesswoman, has an estimated net worth of $8.7 billion. The majority of Laurie’s wealth stems from her inheritance of Walmart shares following the death of her father, James “Bud” Walton, in 1995. Bud Walton was the brother and business partner of Walmart founder Sam Walton. At the time of Bud’s death, his fortune was valued at approximately $1 billion. As Walmart’s success continued to grow exponentially over the years, so did the value of Nancy’s inherited stake.
In addition to her Walmart holdings, Laurie’s net worth is bolstered by various other investments and assets. She and her husband, Bill Laurie, own several properties across the United States, including a $20 million mansion in Henderson, Nevada, where they primarily reside. They also possess real estate in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, and a ranch in Columbia, Missouri.
It’s worth noting that while Laurie’s wealth is substantial, it is not without controversy. Her $300 million superyacht, KAOS, made headlines when it was vandalized by climate activists in Ibiza, drawing attention to discussions about wealth inequality and environmental concerns.
Here’s the breakdown of Nancy Walton Laurie’s net worth:
Name: | Nancy Walton Laurie |
Net Worth: | $8.7 Billion |
Date of Birth: | May 15, 1951 |
Profession: | Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
Early Life
Nancy Walton Laurie was born on May 15, 1951, in Versailles, Missouri. She grew up in a family deeply involved in the retail business, as the daughter of James “Bud” Walton, who co-founded Walmart with his brother Sam Walton.
Nancy’s upbringing was likely comfortable but not extravagant, as the Walton family was known for their frugality in the early days of Walmart’s growth.
She attended the University of Memphis (then known as Memphis State University), where she met her future husband, Bill Laurie.
Inheritance
Nancy Walton Laurie’s substantial wealth primarily stems from her inheritance of Walmart shares. When her father, Bud Walton, passed away in 1995, his fortune was valued at approximately $1 billion.
Nancy and her sister, Ann Walton Kroenke, each inherited half of their father’s stake in Walmart. As the company continued to grow exponentially over the years, so did the value of Nancy’s inherited shares.
While the exact number of shares she owns is not publicly disclosed, it is estimated that she inherited around 20 million shares (based on the assumption of a 50% split with her sister).
Personal Life and Real Estate
Nancy Walton Laurie is married to Bill Laurie, whom she met while attending the University of Memphis. The couple primarily resides in Henderson, Nevada, where they own a $20 million mansion. They have diversified their real estate portfolio with properties in various locations:
- A home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, which Nancy has spent over $60 million developing and expanding over two decades (2001-2021). This estate, potentially the largest self-owned property in Bel Air, comprises around 9-10 acres after including a neighboring property acquired for $14.6 million.
- A ranch in Columbia, Missouri, where they breed appaloosa horses.
- Commercial real estate holdings managed through their business ventures.
In addition to their real estate investments, the Lauries own significant assets such as the $300 million superyacht KAOS. They previously owned the St. Louis Blues hockey team from 1999 to 2005. The couple has one daughter, Paige Laurie.
Paige Laurie Controversies
Nancy Walton Laurie’s daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie, has been at the center of significant controversies that have impacted the family’s public image. The most notable scandal occurred during Paige’s time at the University of Southern California (USC).
In 2004, it was revealed that Paige had paid her roommate, Elena Martinez, approximately $20,000 over three and a half years to complete her coursework, including writing term papers and other assignments.
This revelation came to light through an interview on ABC’s “20/20” program, where Martinez detailed the extent of the academic dishonesty.
The fallout from this scandal was substantial. Paige Laurie returned her USC degree, and the University of Missouri, which had named its new sports arena “Paige Sports Arena” following a $25 million donation from her parents, decided to remove her name from the venue. The arena was subsequently renamed “Mizzou Arena”.
Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.
With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.