Meet Nancy Walton Laurie, the Walmart heiress whose $300 million yacht got spray-painted by climate activists

Yeji Jesse LeeJul 18, 2023, 03:53 IST

Nancy Walton Laurie at a Cedar Lake dancers' practice. She founded the contemporary ballet group in 2002.Steve Eichner/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

Nancy Walton Laurie is the daughter of Walmart cofounder James "Bud" Walton.
She inherited her stake in Walmart when her father died in 1995.

On Sunday, climate activists from environmental group Futuro Vegetal spray painted a superyacht in red and black paint as it was docked at a port in Ibiza, an island off the coast of Spain.

The 361-feet long yacht is worth an estimated $300 million and is called the "Kaos," It includes a swimming pool, cinema, spa, and aquarium, according to Yacht Bible.

It also belongs to one of the wealthiest women in the world, Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie.

After activists spray-painted the stern of the yacht, they held up a sign that read "You consume others suffer."

A video of the event, and of workers hosing down the paint afterwards was uploaded onto Twitter on Sunday.

Here's what you need to know about Nancy Walton Laurie.

Nancy Walton Laurie, 72, is the youngest daughter of James "Bud" Walton and niece of Sam Walton. The two brothers cofounded retail giant Walmart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.

Sam WaltonSam's Club

Nancy Walton Laurie, 72, is the youngest daughter of James "Bud" Walton and niece of Sam Walton. The two brothers cofounded retail giant Walmart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.

She grew up in Versailles, Missouri. She currently lives in Henderson, Nevada, according to Forbes.

Nancy Walton Laurie wants $90,000 for a damaged tree.AP

In 1973, she graduated from the University of Memphis, known then as Memphis State, with a bachelor's degree in English.

University of Memphis CampusThe University of Memphis

Future husband Bill Laurie also attended the university. He played basketball there. His team made it to the 1973 NCAA finals.

Nancy Walton Laurie and husband Bill Laurie at the Red Bull Racing garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami in May 2023.Mark Thompson/Getty Images

The couple had a daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie, in 1982. Paige was accused of paying a fellow student $20,000 to do her homework for three and a half years during her time at USC and in 2005, she surrendered her degree.

Paige Laurie in 2005.Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

The couple had a daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie, in 1982. Paige was accused of paying a fellow student $20,000 to do her homework for three and a half years during her time at USC and in 2005, she surrendered her degree.

When James "Bud" Walton died in 1995, Nancy inherited around half of her father's 40 million shares in Walmart. She owns less than a 5% stake in the company, according to Bloomberg.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

When James "Bud" Walton died in 1995, Nancy inherited around half of her father's 40 million shares in Walmart. She owns less than a 5% stake in the company, according to Bloomberg.

Nancy is the 304th richest person in the world, according to The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $7.77 billion.

Nancy Walton Laurie at a Cedar Lake dancers' practice.Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Nancy's cousin, Alice Walton, is one of the world's richest women and for a brief time was named the richest woman in America.

AP/April L. Brown

Collectively, members of the Walton family own about a 50% stake in Walmart.

Walton family members (L to R) Jim, Rob and Alice Walton. Rick Wilking/Reuters

Nancy is a patron of the arts. In 1998, she established a dance school called the Columbia Performing Arts Center in Columbia, Missouri.

REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

She also owned a contemporary ballet company called the Cedar Lake Ensemble in New York City. She established the company in 2002. In 2004, she paid $11.37 million to build out "a 191-seat theater, a rehearsal studio and offices for her company," according to the New York Times. The company closed in 2015.

Christine Dakin and Nancy Walton Laurie attend Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet "Dream Collaborations: An Evening of Three Choreographers" at Cedar Lake on January 30, 2006 in New York City.Christian Grattan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

She also owned a contemporary ballet company called the Cedar Lake Ensemble in New York City. She established the company in 2002. In 2004, she paid $11.37 million to build out "a 191-seat theater, a rehearsal studio and offices for her company," according to the New York Times. The company closed in 2015.

Nancy and Bill Laurie owned the St. Louis Blues hockey team between 1999 and 2005. Today, they own a commercial real estate portfolio, according to Forbes. Nancy is not actively involved in Walmart's operations.

Reuters

Nancy and Bill Laurie owned the St. Louis Blues hockey team between 1999 and 2005. Today, they own a commercial real estate portfolio, according to Forbes. Nancy is not actively involved in Walmart's operations.

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Meet Nancy Walton Laurie, the Walmart heiress whose $300 million yacht got spray-painted by climate activists

Nancy Walton Laurie, 72, is the youngest daughter of James "Bud" Walton and niece of Sam Walton. The two brothers cofounded retail giant Walmart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.

She grew up in Versailles, Missouri. She currently lives in Henderson, Nevada, according to Forbes.

In 1973, she graduated from the University of Memphis, known then as Memphis State, with a bachelor's degree in English.

Future husband Bill Laurie also attended the university. He played basketball there. His team made it to the 1973 NCAA finals.

The couple had a daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie, in 1982. Paige was accused of paying a fellow student $20,000 to do her homework for three and a half years during her time at USC and in 2005, she surrendered her degree.

When James "Bud" Walton died in 1995, Nancy inherited around half of her father's 40 million shares in Walmart. She owns less than a 5% stake in the company, according to Bloomberg.

Nancy is the 304th richest person in the world, according to The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $7.77 billion.

Nancy's cousin, Alice Walton, is one of the world's richest women and for a brief time was named the richest woman in America.

Collectively, members of the Walton family own about a 50% stake in Walmart.

Nancy is a patron of the arts. In 1998, she established a dance school called the Columbia Performing Arts Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Nancy and Bill Laurie owned the St. Louis Blues hockey team between 1999 and 2005. Today, they own a commercial real estate portfolio, according to Forbes. Nancy is not actively involved in Walmart's operations.