Waltons and Hunt among richest people on the planet

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 4,018 views 

Forbes released it’s “Richest People on the Planet” list Monday, (Mar.4) and two prominent Northwest Arkansas families were among the 1,426 billionaires listed from around the world.

Forbes says the ranks of the world's billionaires have again reached all-time highs, both in terms of the number of billionaires (1,426) and record net worth ($5.4 trillion). The United States still has more billionaires than any other country, but once again the world's richest person comes from outside its borders.    

The world’s richest individual is Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim with a reported $73 billion.

Christy Walton, 58, widow of John Walton – son of Wal-Mart founders Sam and Helen Walton – ranked No. 11 on the list with a net worth of $28.2 billion.

Jim Walton, 65, and heir to Walton family wealth from Wal-Mart ranked No. 14 with a net worth of $26.7 billion.

Alice Walton, 63, only daughter of Sam and Helen Walton, ranked No. 16 with a net worth of $26.3 billion.

S. Robson Walton, 69, the eldest Walton heir reports a net worth of $26.1 billion, ranking No, 17 on the global list of billionaires.

With $1.9 billion in accumulated wealth, Johnelle Hunt, the 81-year-old widow of trucking magnate J.B. Hunt, made the prestigious list at No. 792.