Jackson, Wyo.
One of the richest men in America, Wal-Mart heir John Walton, died this week when his experimental ultralight aircraft crashed in Wyoming. Walton, 58, was the second son of Sam Walton, who founded what became the largest retail chain in the world. With a fortune estimated at $20 billion, John Walton, who served on Wal-Mart’s board, was No. 7 on Forbes magazine’s 2004 list of the wealthiest Americans. Walton, who flew homemade aircraft as a hobby, crashed “almost immediately after takeoff,” said a spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park, which includes the airport grounds. Investigators could not immediately say what caused the crash.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Saudi Arabia could become an AI focal pointUnder the Radar A state-backed AI project hopes to rival China and the United States
-
What you need to know about last-minute travelThe Week Recommends You can book an awesome trip with a moment’s notice
-
Codeword: October 29, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
