Sam Walton founded Walmart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, with a single discount store built on low prices.
The company now operates over 10,500 stores across 19 countries, serving roughly 240 million customers weekly.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart is the world's largest company by revenue and biggest private employer.
About Walmart
Walmart Founders
Sector
Retail
Industry
Discount Stores / Grocery
CEO
Doug McMillon
Website
walmart.com
Headquarters
Bentonville, AR
Founded
1962
Status
Public (NYSE: WMT)
Sam Walton
Founder
Bud Walton
Co-Founder
Walmart History
1962
Sam Walton opens the first Wal-Mart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas.
1970
Walmart holds its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange at $16.50 per share.
1988
First Supercenter opens in Washington, Missouri, combining groceries with general merchandise.
1991
International expansion begins with a Sam's Club opening in Mexico City.
2016
Walmart acquires Jet.com for $3.3 billion, accelerating its e-commerce strategy.
FAQs
Who made Walmart logo?
Walmart's current "spark" logo was introduced in 2008. The design was created by Lippincott, a brand strategy and design firm. It replaced the star used between the words "Wal" and "Mart" in the previous logo.
Is Walmart an American company?
Yes. Walmart is an American multinational corporation. It was founded in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962 and remains headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The company is incorporated in Delaware and publicly traded on the NYSE.
When did Walmart come out?
The first Walmart store opened on July 2, 1962, in Rogers, Arkansas. Sam Walton founded the company after running Ben Franklin franchise stores through the 1950s. Walmart incorporated in 1969 and went public in 1970.
Who owns Walmart?
The Walton family owns approximately 46% of Walmart's shares through Walton Enterprises LLC. The remaining shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WMT. Doug McMillon serves as CEO.