With a net worth of $700 billion, the Walmart Princess has become the world's richest woman: she doesn't work, has no children, and only burns money.

There's a saying that wealth can be passed down from generation to generation, but some families hold onto their wealth, while others don't survive beyond three generations.

There are five well-known American families:

• The Bushes,
• The Kardashians,
• The Murdochs,
• The Waltons,
• The Kochs.

These five families each shone in politics, entertainment, journalism, business, and other fields. The Waltons, one of the most prominent members of the American business community, may be unfamiliar to some, but mentioning Walmart and Sam's Club likely brings them to mind.

The Walton family's wealth is enough to make heiress Alice Walton the world's richest woman. And Alice, the Walmart Princess, has a singular mission: something everyone envies: spending money. She has no children and doesn't have to work. Perhaps her only worry is how to spend her endless money.

I. Not cut out for business, but firmly on the throne of "richest woman"

In 2025, Alice Walton, ranked 15th on the Hurun Global Rich List, could be considered a bright spot on the rich list. Among the many wealthy men, Alice still ranks in the top 20. She is also the richest woman in the world.

However, many people are unfamiliar with Alice. She is neither a businesswoman nor a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. So who is Alice? Where does her wealth come from?

In the 1960s and 1970s, after graduating from high school, Alice entered Trinity College in San Antonio. Influenced by her father, a businessman, Alice also chose to major in economics and finance, hoping to make a name for herself in the business world.

Alice's thoughts on this matter inevitably stem from her father's astonishing business success: Sam Walton.

However, many people are more familiar with Sam's Club and Walmart than the Walton family itself, both of which are Walton family businesses.

In the early 1960s, Sam Walton, with his business acumen, pioneered a warehouse-style retail store. This was a unique and distinctive model at the time, and this sales model became the Walton family's wealth. As sales evolved, the Walton family's stores grew in popularity, and the family's wealth grew.

Sam's ability immediately distinguished him from his peers. Walmart, founded by the Walton family, became the largest private employer in the United States at the time, generating substantial annual revenue and contributing billions of dollars to the US government.

The Walton family's businesses also became the world's largest retailer. Alice joined Walmart as a buyer after graduation. But Alice found the work somewhat dull and boring. Young people of that age are often full of youthful energy, and Alice was no exception. She didn't want to work under her father, so she soon resigned and headed for New Orleans.

As the saying goes, "We're not afraid of second-generation rich people squandering their wealth, we're more afraid of them starting businesses." Alice was soon embroiled in a lawsuit just as she began her career.

In 1979, Alice was working as a broker at a securities firm. Soon after, she was sued. Despite her objections, her nascent career plummeted, and her first husband divorced her.

This devastated Alice, and she soon returned home. But Alice never gave up on finding her own way, and this time, she believed she could capitalize on the fame of Walmart.

Alice was Sam's youngest child and only daughter, so needless to say, he doted on her. He once said of Alice, "Of my four children, Alice is the most like me in some ways." However, it's safe to say that "something" didn't include business acumen.

Alice founded an agency and an investment bank, but the dream was beautiful, the reality was harsh; neither venture lasted. After repeated failures, Alice came to terms with herself and acknowledged her lack of business talent. She gave up on entrepreneurship and settled into her life as a wealthy second-generation child.

In 1992, Sam passed away, leaving a substantial inheritance to his children and wife. Alice didn't have to worry about running Sam's Club and Walmart; her brothers took care of everything, and all she had to do was sit back and wait for the money to come in. To this day, Sam's and Walton's remain popular supermarkets, which explains Alice's continued growth. This year, data released by the Hurun Research Institute indicates that Alice's wealth has reached 745 billion RMB.

II. Alice's "Cash Burn"

Although Alice didn't inherit her father's talent for business, her endless wealth allowed her to pursue whatever she desired.

Having repeatedly failed in the business world, Alice no longer focused on making a name for herself. Instead, she embraced a free-spirited lifestyle, acquiring whatever she pleased.

Alice lacked business acumen, but she possessed a keen eye for art. Not only did she appreciate it, she also had the money. When she came across a piece of art she liked, she simply bought it.

Especially extravagantly, Alice didn't prioritize quantity or price when purchasing art, often finding herself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of art she'd already acquired.

To better showcase these valuable collections, Alice spent over $300 million in 2011 to build the 20,000-square-meter Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, the home of Walmart.

Designed by Alice and Moshe Safdie, the museum is free to the public, and the artworks are valued at billions of dollars.

Although Alice has had two marriages, both ended in divorce, and she has no children with either husband. Her current focus is on spending her seemingly endless wealth and continuing the philanthropic work her father cherished.

Establishing a nearly $10 million summer camp for children, Alice creates a wonderful experience for children across the United States, regardless of race or class. Additionally, Alice has donated $300 million to a university and continues to donate annually to education-related projects.

Alice is now in her seventies. While she was once a bit arrogant, she has become more composed with age. Through her involvement in philanthropy, Alice seems to have found the meaning of wealth.