Ann was poised to inherit a share of one of the largest fortunes ever amassed, yet Kroenke felt no need to stop working. Building his property empire has catapulted Kroenke into the rich list in his own right - albeit several rungs below his wife. The connection to Wal-Mart helped him amass his fortune by building shopping malls across mid-America anchored by the enormous superstores. He even spent a decade on the retailer's board of directors.