High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Walton Family is one of the richest families in the world, their wealth inherited from Bud and Sam Walton, founders of the world`s largest retailer, Wal-Mart. The five most prominent members (Jim, John (d. 2005), Rob, Alice, and Helen (d. 2007)) have consistently been in the top ten of the Forbes 400 since 2001, although Helen dropped to #11 in 2006, probably in part due to her extensive philanthropy. Christy Walton took her husband John`s place after his death in 2005.