Melani A. Lowman Walton

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Quick facts

Family: Third wife of Rob Walton; the two married in 2005
Age: 38 (born July 1974)[1]
Residence: Paradise Valley, AZ.[2] She grew up in Montana.

Wealth

Unknown. However, her husband Rob has an estimated net worth of $26.1 billion (as of September 2012).

•  Rob Walton has direct or shared ownership of 49.5% of outstanding Walmart shares, nearly all of which is through his interest in Walton Enterprises, the family holding company he manages with his siblings Alice, Jim, and John (John’s estate).[3] Walton is also on the company’s payroll: According to the company’s April 2012 proxy statement, Walton’s annual salary as chairman of the board is $235,000; the company also paid health insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions for him.[4]

• Madrone Capital Partners is an investment firm “affiliated with S. Robson Walton and other family members,” managed by Rob Walton’s son-in-law Greg Penner. Madrone’s investments include a $1 billion investment in the Hyatt Hotels Corporation,a $33 million investment in the failed search engine Cuil, and a stake the bankrupt solar energy company Solyndra, which was raided by the FBI in September 2011.
• Rob Walton shares 96% ownership of the family’s Arvest Bank (Jim Walton, CEO) with Jim Walton and John Walton’s estate[5]; as of September 2012, the bank’s assets totaled approximately $13.8 billion.[6]

Rob and Melani Walton race and tour vintage sports cars.[7]

Educational and professional background

Education

B.S., Dickinson State University (North Dakota), 1998

Professional life

Lowman Walton has worked as an athletic trainer and basketball coach. She also has worked in commercial real estate.

She and Rob Walton are also listed as “advisors” to venture capital firm Greener Capital.

Political giving

Federal election giving

Since September 2010, Melani Walton has given $4,900 to Republican politicians.[8]

Community connections

• Arizona Science Center (Phoenix, AZ): Board Member.
• Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation: Board of Directors.
• Phoenix Theater: The Walton Family Foundation, at the direction of Rob and Melani Walton, gave the Phoenix Theater $1 million toward the construction of the theater’s $15 million third auditorium.
• Dickinson State University (Dickinson, ND): The Walton Family Foundation gave DSU a $1 million donation in 2008 at the recommendation of Rob and Melani Walton. Melani Walton graduated from DSU in 1998. As a result of the gift, a portion of the school’s activities center will be named the Lowman-Walton Concourse.
• Other involvements include: Arizona State University Women in Philanthropy, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy of Arizona, and the Dickinson State University Development Foundation.