Ronald Wanek
Saint Petersburg, Florida
High School Graduate, High School
United States
7
furniture, Self Made
$1,900,000,000
1281
2
#1281 Billionaires 2019
#383 Forbes 400 2018
Ronald Wanek is the founder of America's largest home furniture manufacturer and retailer, Ashley Furniture.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.In 1976, he bought retailer Ashley Furniture, which had been around since the 1940s.He remains chairman of Ashley Furniture; his son, Todd, has been CEO since 2002.Wanek has donated millions to the Mayo Clinic to help improve treatment for a heart defect that affected his granddaughter at birth.
Wanek grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota, where his grandfather and great uncle built furniture as a hobby.Wanek's family office, Third Lake Capital, owns a wing restaurant chain, hotels and shopping malls.
78
3
Add a review