Ronald Wanek
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Furniture
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Residence
- Saint Petersburg, Florida
- Education
- High School (High School Graduate)
- Marital Status
- Married
- Children
- 3
Biography
Ronald Wanek is the founder of America's largest home furniture manufacturer and retailer, Ashley Furniture.
Wanek grew up poor on a dairy farm in Minnesota, where his grandfather and great uncle built furniture as a hobby.
He started his first furniture manufacturing business, Arcadia Furniture, in 1970 with a loan from his father and money he got from selling his home.
Six years later he bought retailer Ashley Furniture, which had been around since the 1940s.
He is chairman of Ashley Furniture; his son Todd, also a billionaire, has been CEO since 2002.
About
Wanek has donated millions to the Mayo Clinic to help improve treatment for a heart defect that affected his granddaughter at birth.
Wanek's family office, Third Lake Capital, owns office buildings, shopping centers and nursing homes.