John R. Menard, Jr. (born 1940) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur who is the founder and owner of
MenardsMenards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.A privately held franchise headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the company has 252 stores in 12 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and...
, a major
MidwesternThe Midwestern United States is one of the four geographic regions within the United States of America that are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau....
home improvement store chain. Menard is also a partner in
Robby Gordon MotorsportsRobby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Jim Beam/Menards Toyota Camry for Robby Gordon. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr....
with
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
owner/driver
Robby GordonRobert W. Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, owning his #7 Toyota Camry, sponsored by Jim Beam and Menards, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series driving the #55 Toyota Camry...
, and is the father of
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver
Paul MenardPaul Menard is a NASCAR driver currently competing in the Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #98 Menards Ford Fusion for Yates Racing in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, though the latter is part time. For 2010 he will continue to drive the #98 Menards Ford, but for Richard Petty...
.
As early as 1959, Menard ran a business constructing pole buildings with friends from college.
A 1963 graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972.
John R. Menard, Jr. (born 1940) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur who is the founder and owner of
MenardsMenards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.A privately held franchise headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the company has 252 stores in 12 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and...
, a major
MidwesternThe Midwestern United States is one of the four geographic regions within the United States of America that are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau....
home improvement store chain. Menard is also a partner in
Robby Gordon MotorsportsRobby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Jim Beam/Menards Toyota Camry for Robby Gordon. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr....
with
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
owner/driver
Robby GordonRobert W. Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, owning his #7 Toyota Camry, sponsored by Jim Beam and Menards, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series driving the #55 Toyota Camry...
, and is the father of
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver
Paul MenardPaul Menard is a NASCAR driver currently competing in the Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #98 Menards Ford Fusion for Yates Racing in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, though the latter is part time. For 2010 he will continue to drive the #98 Menards Ford, but for Richard Petty...
.
As early as 1959, Menard ran a business constructing pole buildings with friends from college.
A 1963 graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2005, his company owned 203
MenardsMenards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.A privately held franchise headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the company has 252 stores in 12 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and...
stores resulting in an estimated $5.5 billion in sales.
He makes his home in
Eau ClaireEau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 61,704 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County, although a small portion of the city lies in neighboring Chippewa County...
,
WisconsinWisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. states. Located in the north-central United States, Wisconsin is considered part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the...
. His son is
Paul MenardPaul Menard is a NASCAR driver currently competing in the Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #98 Menards Ford Fusion for Yates Racing in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, though the latter is part time. For 2010 he will continue to drive the #98 Menards Ford, but for Richard Petty...
, driver of the #98 Menards Ford in the
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series. Menard also owns an engine shop in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
that produced engines for
Team MenardTeam Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
and
Robby Gordon MotorsportsRobby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Jim Beam/Menards Toyota Camry for Robby Gordon. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr....
and was the owner of
Team MenardTeam Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
which won the 1997 and 1999
Indy Racing LeagueThe Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is an American based open-wheel racing series sanctioning body.The League sanctions two series, the premier IndyCar Series , whose centerpiece is the Indianapolis 500, and Firestone Indy Lights, the official developmental series of the Indy...
championships.
Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the
Forbes 400The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September. In 2007, the combined wealth of the 400 was $1.54 trillion, and all of the members of the list were billionaires...
, and is the richest person in Wisconsin.
In January 2008, Menard gave $15 million to support Luther Midelfort Hospital. The donation will be used for a new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals. (Eau Claire Leader Telegram, January 23, 2008)
External links
- Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People
- Milwaukee Magazine
Milwaukee Magazine is a monthly city magazine serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area in Wisconsin, U.S. It bills itself as "Southeastern Wisconsin's most authoritative source for Events and Dining," and claims to be read by 200,000 readers. Its president and publisher is Betty Quadracci and its...
: Big Money - "How home improvement store founder John Menard became the richest man in Wisconsin – and what he sacrificed to do it."