Very fortunate

Fort Worth billionaire reigns as the richest woman in the world

Walton and her relatives reign as the world’s richest family.

Photo courtesy of Wal-Mart

Fort Worth’s Alice Walton may keep a relatively low profile, but she’s got a high profile when it comes to her stature among the world’s billionaires.

A new ranking from China’s Hurun Report puts Walton at No. 1 among the world’s richest women and at No. 12 overall, with a net worth estimated at $59 billion as of January 31. She’s one of the heirs to the Walmart retail fortune.

In all, nearly 16 percent of the billionaires on the 2020 list are women.

Walton lands one spot ahead of Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose net worth is estimated at $58 billion.

Walton sat at No. 18 on Hunan’s 2019 list, meaning she climbed six spots from last year to this year. Over the past five years, Walton has padded her wealth by $20 billion to $30 billion, according to the 2020 Hunan Report, released February 26.

Walton and her relatives reign as the world’s richest family, with a cumulative net worth of $208 billion as of January 31, the report says.

Three places behind Walton on this year’s list is the world’s second-richest woman, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers. With an estimated net worth of $56 billion, the L’Oreal cosmetics heiress and her family rank 15th overall.

The world’s third-richest woman, according to the Hunan Report, is MacKenzie Bezos, ex-wife of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. Her estimated net worth of $44 billion puts her in a tie for 22nd place worldwide.

The latest ranking from Forbes magazine lists Meyers as the richest woman in the world, holding down the No. 13 spot with a fortune estimated at $54.3 billion. Forbes puts Walton at No. 15 ($51.8 billion) and MacKenzie Bezos at No. 22 ($38.4 billion).

More Texans on the list
The second-ranked Texan on the Hunan list is Austin’s Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Round Rock-based Dell Technologies Inc. At $28 billion, he’s tied for the No. 35 spot worldwide.

Parked at No. 3 in Texas and No. 68 globally are Dallas’ Elaine Marshall and her family, with an estimated net worth of $17 billion. The Marshalls control a hefty stake in Wichita, Kansas-based conglomerate Koch Industries.

Tied at No. 4 in Texas are Dallas banker and real estate investor Andy Beal, and West Texas sports mogul Stan Kroenke. With an estimated fortune of $9.4 billion, each appears at No. 194 on Hunan’s global list.

With an estimated net worth of $7.2 billion, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ranks sixth in Texas and ties for 281st worldwide. (Since Beal and Kroenke are tied at No. 4, there is no fifth-ranked Texan.)

At No. 7 in Texas and No. 347 globally is Ann Walton Kroenke, wife of billionaire Stan Kroenke and an heir to the Walmart fortune. She has an estimated net worth of $6.2 billion.

Omni Hotels and Gold’s Gym honcho Robert Rowling of Dallas claims the No. 8 ranking in Texas and ties for No. 408 worldwide. His fortune is estimated at $5.6 billion.

Houston pipeline baron Richard Kinder stands at No. 9 in Texas and ties for No. 415 globally, with a net worth estimated at $5.5 billion.

Energy magnate Trevor Rees-Jones grabs the No. 10 spot in Texas and ties for the No. 425 spot worldwide. The Hunan Report pegs his net worth at $5.4 billion.

With an estimated fortune of $5.1 billion, tequila and hair care entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria of Austin checks in at No. 11 in Texas and ties for No. 464 globally.

Houston pipeline heirs Scott Duncan and Randa Williams are tied at No. 12 in Texas and No. 482 worldwide. Each has a net worth estimated at $5 billion. Their two Houston siblings, Dannine Avara and Milane Frantz, share the No. 14 spot in Texas and the No. 493 spot globally. Each has an estimated net worth of $4.9 billion.

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Fire News

New Fort Worth restaurant HG Sply Co. catches fire days after it opens

Photo courtesy of HG Sply Co.

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A fire broke out at a restaurant that just opened in Fort Worth: The north Fort Worth location of HG Sply Co. caught on fire on November 15 — mere days after the restaurant opened in Alliance Town Center at 3351 Texas Sage Trail.

Restaurant management stated that they noticed the smell of smoke and smoke from vents as they were evacuating the restaurant. The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to the fire at the restaurant-bar at 12:55 pm.

"FWFD is working a multiple alarm commercial structure fire in the 3300 block of Texas Sage Trail," the department said. "This is an active fire as of 12:55PM and details are limited. If at all possible, please avoid this area as there are several fire apparatus and personnel on scene."

It was a two-alarm fire that caused damage to the chimney and injured one firefighter, who was treated for injuries at the scene and transported to a local clinic for evaluation. The fire has since been contained.

According to a Fort Worth Fire Department public information officer, there was an accidental fire in the chimney, which spread to the attic. Fox 4 had overhead footage showing two firetrucks on the scene, as well as a shot of the chimney, blackened by soot.

Management reported to the fire department that 40-50 employees and 35 customers were able to safely exit the building without injuries. A re-opening date has not been announced, but an employee said it would probably not be long.

"Yes, some water and smoke damage — fire damage, thankfully was from the fireplace structure," the employee said. "As our team get things cleaned up. We will be working hard to reopen asap."

HG Supply Co. was founded in Dallas in 2013, and has two other locations, in west Fort Worth and Trophy Club. Coincidentally, this new location just made CultureMap's monthly list of "Where to eat in Fort Worth right now."