"It's just paper - all I own is a pickup truck and a little Wal-Mart stock." - Sam Walton

Sam Walton (1918-1992) was an American businessman and entrepreneur.  In 1945 he started out by purchasing a Ben Franklin store in Newport, Arkansas with $20,000 from his father-in-law and $5,000 he'd saved from the army.  It was here where he pioneered the high volume, low price business model that Wal-Mart dominates today. 

After Walton opened the first Ben Franklin store it took 17 years before he opened the first Wal-Mart.  Good move Sam, I think it worked out for you. He made a ton of money and left it all to his kids and wife.  If you hate Wal-Mart you can thank Sam Walton.

Forbes ranked Sam Walton as the richest man in the United States from 1985 to 1988.