Sam Walton was an American businessman who founded Walmart Stores Inc., which grew to be the world’s largest corporation by revenue as well as the largest private employer in the world. Founded in 1962, Walmart now operates thousands of stores across the globe. Walton spent years in the retail management business before opening the first Walmart store. Born into a humble farming family in 1918, he grew up during the Great Depression when not just his own family, but many others around him, struggled to make ends meet. As a young boy, he took up various jobs to contribute to his family’s income, teaching him the value of hard work and determination early in life. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics. After working for a time at JCPenney, Walton served in the U.S. Army during World War II before venturing into the retail management business. He first managed a Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas, which he purchased. Eventually, Walton opened the first Walmart store in 1962. Today, Walmart has grown to include over 11,000 stores in 28 countries.