Sam Walton

Even when I was a child, my talent for entrepreneurship was obvious. Growing up on a farm in Oklahoma in the midst of the Great Depression, I helped support the family by delivering milk, taking on newspaper routes, and selling magazine subscriptions. After earning a business degree from the University of Missouri, I worked for J.C. Penney and joined the military. I owned a Ben Franklin franchise for a while, but then started the first Walmart store. This grew into the largest retailer in America, due to my innate talent for business, hard work, and useful discount marketing tactics. I was the wealthiest person in the country at one point, and have even been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. How is it that I became the founder of both Walmart and Sam's Club? I have America to thank for that. It is a nation of opportunities for everyone, even those with rural upbringings. It gave me the chance to use my entrepreneurship skills and put them to the test. It allowed me to improve my financial situation and become a self-made businessman.