Walmart CEO John Furner earned $4.50 as stock boy. Now, he could get $15 million as US retail giant boss

John Furner, 51, Walmart’s new president and CEO, is set to succeed the current leader, Doug McMillon, in January 2026. His journey at Walmart is nothing short of inspiring. In the year 1993, John Furner started working for Walmart as a part-time associate in the garden center. In his career spanning decades, he has seen every corner of the company.

On Friday, the company said that longtime CEO Doug McMillon would retire in January, with Walmart US CEO John Furner taking over on February 1. Walmart's incoming CEO worked his way up from stock boy to leader in a thirty-plus-year career at the company.

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John Furner's journey at Walmart

According to Business Insider, John Furner began working for Walmart as an hourly store associate in 1993 at Store 100, located in the company's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. He later graduated with a degree in business from the University of Arkansas and held a wide range of assignments over the next decade. He was named as CEO of Sam's Club in 2017 and then went on to become CEO of Walmart's US division in 2019.


When John Furner started his career at Walmart, Furner was stocking the store and being paid an hourly wage of $4.50. Since his days as a store associate, Furner has climbed the corporate retail ladder. During his tenure at Sam’s Club, Furner had 11 consecutive quarters of positive sales comps and achieved strong membership growth.

Furner has held several important roles at the company including in-store roles such as assistant store manager and store manager. He has also worked as a district manager, buyer, regional general manager, and divisional merchandising manager, according to The US Sun.

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Furner went on to hold several senior leadership roles at Walmart, including vice president of global sourcing, general merchandise manager, head of marketing and merchandising for Walmart China in Shenzhen, and chief merchant for Sam’s Club in the United States. He also served on the National Retail Federation’s board of directors, acting as chairman from 2022 to 2025.

John Furner announced Walmart CEO

John Furner was announced as Walmart Inc.’s newest CEO on November 14, 2025.“John Furner is the right leader to guide Walmart into our next chapter of growth and transformation,” Greg Penner, Chairman of Walmart Inc, said in a press release.

“After starting as an hourly associate and being with us for over 30 years in a variety of leadership roles across all three of our operating segments, John understands every dimension of our business – from the sales floor to global strategy.” “I’ve worked with John for more than 20 years. His love for our associates and this company runs deep,” Doug McMillon, who has served as Walmart’s CEO for 12 years said.

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“His curiosity and digital acumen combined with a deep commitment to our people and culture will enable him to take us to the next level.” Furner thanked McMillon, the board, and the company as a whole for the promotion.

“I am deeply honored by the trust the Board and family have placed in me to lead Walmart, a company that has shaped my life and so many others. I’m grateful to Doug for his leadership and mentorship and the foundation that is built for our future,” he said in the release. “As we enter a new retail era fueled by innovation and AI, our purpose and our people will continue to guide us. Together, we’ll find new ways to serve customers, support our associates, and strengthen the communities we call home.