Sam Walton Age at Death and Final Years
Sam Walton died at age 74 on April 5, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas, from multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, according to public records and company disclosures Forbes. He was born on March 29, 1918, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and passed away in the same state where Walmart was headquartered Britannica. His age at death is frequently cited in biographies, timelines, and business case studies when discussing the founding era of Walmart.
In the years before his death, Walton remained chairman and chief executive of Walmart, overseeing rapid domestic and international expansion SEC. He continued to visit stores, test new formats, and promote the company's cost leadership strategy, cementing the image of the founder as a hands-on operator until his final months.
Walmart Founding, Growth, and Sam Walton's Net Worth
Key Dates and Business Milestones
Sam Walton opened the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962, and the company went public in 1970, with shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WMT Forbes. By the early 1990s, Walmart had become the largest U.S. retailer by revenue, driven by a low-cost, high-volume model that Sam Walton personally refined across thousands of locations.
Net Worth and Wealth Context
At the time of his death, Sam Walton's net worth was estimated at roughly 6.5 billion dollars, making him one of the richest individuals in the United States, according to Forbes and Bloomberg estimates Forbes. His wealth was tied primarily to Walmart shares, and his heirs, including his children, retained significant stakes in the company after his passing.
Rankings, Legacy, and Ongoing Influence
Walmart's Global Standing
Walmart remains the world's largest company by revenue in many annual rankings, such as the Fortune Global 500, and it operates thousands of stores across multiple countries SEC. Sam Walton's age at death is often referenced in discussions of how long he led the company and how his management philosophy shaped modern retail logistics, pricing, and supply chain practices.
Leadership Transition After Walton
After Sam Walton died, his son Rob Walton became chairman, and the company continued to expand internationally, acquire e-commerce platforms, and invest in technology