Ann Walton Kroenke

Ann Walton Kroenke
Born	Ann Walton 20 12, 1948
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businesswoman, philanthropist
Known for	Walton family fortune, ownership of Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche
Education	Lincoln University
Spouse(s)	Template:Marriage
Children	2

Ann Walton Kroenke (born December 20, 1948) is an American billionaire businesswoman, heiress, and sports team owner whose wealth derives from the Walmart retail empire built by her father and uncle. The daughter of James "Bud" Walton — the brother and early business partner of Walmart founder Sam Walton — she inherited a substantial stake in the company following her father's death in 1995. Trained as a nurse before entering the world of business and philanthropy, Kroenke has become one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States and holds ownership stakes in major professional sports franchises, including the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). She is married to Stan Kroenke, a billionaire businessman and sports magnate in his own right, who serves as the majority owner and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL), Arsenal F.C. of the English Premier League, the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League. Together, the Kroenkes constitute one of the most prominent families in American professional sports ownership. As of 2025, Ann Walton Kroenke was listed among the ten billionaires with ties to Arkansas on the Forbes "Richest People in America" list.

Early Life

Ann Walton was born on December 20, 1948, into a family that would become one of the most consequential in American retail history. Her father, James Lawrence "Bud" Walton, played a foundational role in the creation and growth of Walmart. Bud Walton served as his brother Sam Walton's earliest and most trusted business partner, providing both financial support and operational assistance as the brothers built what would become the world's largest retailer. Bud Walton invested in Sam's earliest retail ventures and was instrumental in the opening and expansion of Walmart stores across the American South and Midwest.

Ann's mother was Audrey Walton. She grew up alongside her sister, Nancy Walton Laurie, who would also become a billionaire heiress to the Walton fortune. The Walton family's wealth grew exponentially as Walmart expanded from a small chain of discount stores in rural Arkansas into a global retail powerhouse. As daughters of Bud Walton, Ann and Nancy occupied a distinct branch of the Walton family — related to but separate from Sam Walton's children, who include Rob Walton, Jim Walton, Alice Walton, and the late John T. Walton.

The Walton family's collective fortune, built on Walmart's success, has made them the wealthiest family in the world. By 2025, the extended Walton family's combined wealth was estimated at approximately $470 billion, according to media reports. Within this broader family structure, Bud Walton's branch — represented by Ann and Nancy — has maintained significant holdings in Walmart stock and other investments.

Education

Ann Walton attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. She trained as a nurse, a profession she pursued before her marriage to Stan Kroenke and her subsequent involvement in business and philanthropy. Her career in nursing represented a path distinct from the retail business that defined her family's fortune, though her life would later become deeply intertwined with the Walton business legacy following her inheritance of Walmart stock.

Career

Walmart Inheritance

Ann Walton Kroenke's wealth stems primarily from the Walmart stock she inherited from her father, Bud Walton. When Bud Walton died in 1995, his substantial stake in Walmart — accumulated through his decades-long partnership with his brother Sam in building the retail chain — was divided between his two daughters, Ann and Nancy. The inheritance transformed both women into billionaires, as Walmart's continued growth and dominant market position made the stock among the most valuable holdings in the world.

Bud Walton had helped his brother Sam build Walmart into a retail giant, and his ownership stake reflected his integral role in the company's founding and expansion. Ann Walton Kroenke's inherited portion of this stake has appreciated substantially over the decades since her father's death, as Walmart has continued to expand its global operations and maintain its position as the world's largest company by revenue.

The Walton family collectively remains the largest shareholder group in Walmart Inc., and the family's various branches — including Bud Walton's descendants — have maintained their holdings as a core component of their wealth. As of 2025, Ann Walton Kroenke was among ten billionaires with Arkansas ties featured on the Forbes "Richest People in America" list, a testament to the enduring value of the Walmart fortune.

Sports Ownership

Ann Walton Kroenke is the owner of two major professional sports franchises: the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. Her ownership of these teams is connected to the broader Kroenke family sports empire, which represents one of the most extensive portfolios of professional sports team ownership in the world.

The transfer of ownership of the Nuggets and Avalanche to Ann Walton Kroenke was related to NFL regulations governing team ownership. In 2015, when Stan Kroenke sought to relocate the St. Louis Rams (later the Los Angeles Rams) to a new stadium in Inglewood, California, NFL owners required the resolution of certain cross-ownership issues. As a result, the Nuggets and Avalanche were transferred to Ann Walton Kroenke's control, allowing Stan Kroenke to maintain compliance with league policies while keeping the teams within the family.

The Denver Nuggets, founded in 1967, compete in the Western Conference of the NBA. Under the Kroenke family's ownership period, the team has experienced competitive success, including winning the NBA Championship in 2023. The Colorado Avalanche, an NHL franchise based in Denver, have a storied history that includes multiple Stanley Cup championships. Ann Walton Kroenke's ownership of both franchises makes her one of the few women to own major North American professional sports teams.

Stan Kroenke, meanwhile, maintains ownership of the Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal F.C., the Colorado Rapids, and the Colorado Mammoth, among other sports and entertainment properties. The family's sports holdings span multiple countries and leagues, and the combined Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) portfolio is among the most diversified in global professional sports. Stan Kroenke's acquisition of a majority stake in Arsenal, the London-based Premier League football club, attracted significant attention in both the American and British media.

The Walton family's involvement in professional sports ownership extends beyond Ann and Stan Kroenke. As reported in 2025, members of the broader Walton family own seven major sports teams between them, making them one of the most prominent sports-owning families in the world.

Philanthropy

Ann Walton Kroenke has been involved in philanthropic activities, including support for arts and music education initiatives. In November 2025, she co-hosted the Playing for Change Foundation's Impact Awards Kick-Off Dinner in Miami Beach alongside her daughter, Whitney Kroenke Silverstein. The event featured performances by Lady Blackbird and Young Musicians Unite and was described as an evening of "music, purpose, and powerful storytelling," aimed at supporting the foundation's mission of connecting the world through music education.

The Playing for Change Foundation is a nonprofit organization that creates music and arts schools in communities around the world, providing education and resources to young people in underserved areas. Kroenke's involvement with the foundation reflects her engagement with charitable causes focused on education and the arts.

Personal Life

Ann Walton married Stan Kroenke in 1974. Stan Kroenke, born in Columbia, Missouri, built his own fortune initially through real estate development before expanding into sports ownership and other business ventures. The couple has two children: Whitney Ann Kroenke (later Whitney Kroenke Silverstein) and Josh Kroenke.

Josh Kroenke has taken on an active role in the family's sports businesses. He serves as the president of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and has been involved in the management of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and other KSE properties. He has also represented the family's interests in the governance of Arsenal F.C. Whitney Kroenke Silverstein has been involved in philanthropic work, including co-hosting charitable events alongside her mother.

The Kroenke family maintains residences in Missouri and Colorado, reflecting their ties to Stan Kroenke's home state and the location of many of their sports properties. The family is known for maintaining a relatively private profile despite their substantial wealth and high-profile sports ownership.

Ann Walton Kroenke's sister, Nancy Walton Laurie, also inherited a substantial fortune from their father, Bud Walton. Nancy is married to Bill Laurie, and the two sisters represent the branch of the Walton family descended from Bud rather than Sam Walton. Both sisters rank among the wealthiest individuals in the United States.

Recognition

Ann Walton Kroenke has been consistently ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the United States and the world by Forbes magazine. Her profile on the Forbes billionaires list reflects her inherited Walmart wealth as well as the appreciation of her holdings over time. As of 2025, she was listed among ten billionaires with ties to Arkansas on the Forbes "Richest People in America" ranking.

The broader Walton family has been recognized as the wealthiest family in the world. A 2025 report estimated the family's combined wealth at approximately $470 billion, a figure that encompasses the holdings of both Sam Walton's and Bud Walton's descendants. Ann Walton Kroenke's individual position within this family wealth structure has made her one of the wealthiest women in the United States.

Her role as owner of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche has also brought recognition within the professional sports world. The Nuggets' 2023 NBA Championship represented a high point for the franchise under the Kroenke family's ownership tenure. As one of the few female owners of major North American professional sports franchises, Kroenke occupies a notable position in the landscape of sports ownership.

The Kroenke family's collective sports empire — spanning the NFL, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, and NLL — is frequently cited in media coverage as one of the most extensive and valuable portfolios of team ownership in global sports.

Legacy

Ann Walton Kroenke's significance lies at the intersection of American retail history, inherited wealth, and professional sports ownership. As a daughter of Bud Walton, she represents a direct link to the founding generation of Walmart, the retail enterprise that reshaped American consumer culture and became the world's largest company by revenue. Her inheritance of Walmart stock and her stewardship of that wealth through decades of the company's continued growth have positioned her as one of the most prominent members of the Walton family.

The Walton family's influence extends far beyond retail. Through their various philanthropic endeavors, business investments, and sports team ownerships, different branches of the family have shaped institutions across American life. Ann Walton Kroenke's ownership of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, combined with her husband's ownership of the Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal F.C., and other franchises, has made the Kroenke branch of the Walton family one of the most significant forces in global professional sports.

The family's approach to sports ownership — assembling a diversified portfolio of teams across multiple leagues and countries — has been both admired for its ambition and scrutinized by fans and media. The transfer of the Nuggets and Avalanche to Ann Walton Kroenke's ownership in 2015, necessitated by NFL cross-ownership rules, illustrated the complex regulatory landscape that governs multi-sport ownership and the Kroenke family's strategic approach to navigating it.

As the Walton family's younger generations — including Ann's children Josh Kroenke and Whitney Kroenke Silverstein — assume greater roles in business and philanthropy, Ann Walton Kroenke's legacy is likely to be defined both by the wealth she inherited and by the institutions she and her family have built, acquired, and supported over the course of several decades.