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Walton claims to be “synonymous with immense wealth and a low-profile lifestyle.” 2 However, she has previously donated to Democratic Party-linked Super PACs including the Lincoln Project. In June 2025, she published a full-page ad in the New York Times that was critical of President Donald Trump. 3
Background
Christy Walton was born Christy Tallant on February 8, 1949. She grew up in and around Jackson, Wyoming. She graduated from high school but not college. Little is publicly known about her early life. 4 5
In 1975, while working as a flight attendant, she met John Walton, the second son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The two married in 1978, and she took the Walton family name. 5
In 2005, John Walton died in a plane crash. A Forbes article published at the time declared Christy Walton the wealthiest woman in the world with $37 billion in assets on the assumption she had inherited her husband John’s fortune. However, a 2015 report estimated her net worth at only $5 billion after inheriting one-sixth of John’s estate. John and Cristy’s son, Lukas Walton, inherited the plurality of John’s fortune, likely one-third of John’s estate. 4 5 2
Political Activism and Philanthropy
From 1991 through November 2024, Christy Walton reportedly donated over $2.8 million to federal super PACs and candidates. Most of her donations were made to Democratic Party-linked organizations, though she has contributed to the campaigns of several Republicans including former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and the late former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. 6
Her largest donation, made in 2016, was $250,000 to libertarian-linked super PAC Alternative PAC, which supported the presidential candidacy of Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson. 6
In 2019, Walton donated $300,000 to Shared Purpose PAC. 6
In 2024, Walton donated $150,000 to SMP, a Democratic super PAC. 6
Walton made $100,000 donations to Welcome PAC, the SFA Fund Inc., Shared Purpose PAC, With Honor Fund Inc., and No Labels Action Inc. 6
In January 2020, Walton donated $20,000 to the Lincoln Project, a Democratic-aligned Super PAC run by former Republican operatives who opposed President Donald Trump. By the end of the year, Walton had donated another $45,000. From 2020 through 2025, Walton has donated a total of $500,000 to the Lincoln Project. 7 8
In 2022, Walton and her son Lukas Walton founded environmental grantmaking organization Innovaciones Alumbra. 3
In November 2024, Walton hosted a fundraiser for then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. 9
On June 14, 2025, Walton placed a full-page ad in the New York Times: “Headlined ‘USA, USA, USA,’ the ad shows an image of the Statue of Liberty at sunset alongside eight declarations, including ‘we respect our neighbors and trading partners’ and ‘we defend against aggression by dictators.’” Though the ad did not mention President Trump, it was an apparent criticism of President Trump and his administration, as well as a show of support for the “No Kings” protests against President Trump and then-Trump administration advisor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. 3
In response, supporters of President Trump called for a boycott of Walmart. Walmart vice president Dan Bartlett later put out a statement claiming “[t]he advertisements from Christy Walton are in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart. She does not serve on the board or play any role in decision making at Walmart.” 10