Alice Walton No: 12 billionaire-2009

Net Worth:$17.6 bil
Fortune:inherited
Source:Wal-Mart
Age:59
Country Of Citizenship:United States
Residence:Fort Worth, Texas
Industry:Retail
Education:Trinity University of San Antonio, Bachelor of Arts / Science,
Marital Status:divorced,



Wal-Mart remains the exception to the rule in the crumbling retail sector thanks to its global footprint and deeply discounted prices. Also helping: the exodus of competitors like Circuit City and Linens N' Things. Shares down 25% since September. Fourth-quarter profit hurt by lawsuit settlements, poor currency exchange; still beat analyst expectations. Stake in solar-paneling outfit First Solar fared far worse; shares down 60% since August after surging 120% in previous 12 months. Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk in 1940; opened Newport, Ark. five-and-dime store Benjamin Franklin 5 years later. Lost lease in 1950. With brother James started general-store chain in Bentonville, Ark., 1962. Today Wal-Mart is world's largest retailer: 7,200 stores, 2 million employees serve 200 million customers. Sales: $378 billion. Alice's Crystal Bridges art museum in Bentonville under construction. Collection already growing; acquisitions include Sargent's "Robert Louis Stevenson and his Wife," Benton's "Ploughing it Under."