Elon Musk might hold the title of richest individual alive, but even he doesn’t own a sports franchise. The Waltons, on the other hand, have turned their vast inheritance into something much bigger — a global empire that stretches far beyond retail.

The Walton dynasty, heirs to the Walmart fortune, now has deep ties to professional sports thanks to their connection to billionaire mogul Stan Kroenke, who married into the family and brought his own collection of major teams with him.

The scale of their wealth is almost impossible to comprehend. For context, it’s larger than the entire annual economic output of countries like Austria or Norway.

The roots of this massive fortune trace back to one of America’s most recognizable brands — Walmart — a name that’s become synonymous with convenience and low prices across the world.

More than sixty years later, Walmart has grown into a global powerhouse with over 10,000 locations and a massive online presence, shaping how millions of people shop every single day.

Denver Broncos owners Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

In 2022, the family made history by buying the NFL’s Denver Broncos for a record $4.7 billion. The team is now led by Greg Penner, who is married to Sam Walton’s granddaughter and serves as the Broncos’ CEO.

But that purchase was only one piece of the family’s sports empire. Through Ann Walton Kroenke’s marriage to Stan Kroenke, their influence now spans across multiple leagues and continents. Kroenke owns a lineup of powerhouse teams, including Arsenal in the Premier League, the LA Rams in the NFL, the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, and the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL — with the latter held under Ann’s name.

Los Angeles Rams owner Stanley Kroenke has shares in six major sports clubs himself Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

According to Forbes, the breakdown of the family’s wealth is just as impressive: Rob Walton & Family are worth $123.8 billion; Jim Walton & Family, $121.2 billion; Alice Walton, $112.5 billion; Lukas Walton, $41.8 billion; Christy Walton, $20.7 billion; Nancy Walton Laurie, $16.6 billion; Ann Walton Kroenke, $13.2 billion; and Stanley Kroenke, $21.3 billion.

That makes eight members of the same family billionaires in their own right — and their children are already following suit, ensuring that the Walton-Kroenke legacy continues to grow for generations.