Ronald G. Wanek (born 1941) is an American
billionaire
A billionaire is a person with a net worth of at least one billion (1,000,000,000, i.e., a thousand million) units of a given currency, usually of a major currency such as the United States dollar, euro, or pound sterling. The American busin ...
businessman, and the founder and chairman of
Ashley Furniture Industries.
Early life
Wanek grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota, where his grandfather and great uncle built furniture as a hobby.
Career
Wanek started his first manufacturing business, Arcadia Furniture, in 1970 with a loan from his father and money he got from selling his home.
In 1976, Wanek purchased Ashley Furniture, a company that had been operating since the 1940s.
After taking control of the company, Wanek established overseas manufacturing and distribution capabilities to make the business more competitive.
Political activity
In 2012, Wanek, "a prominent Republican donor", gave $1 million towards hosting Tampa's Republican National Convention.
Together with his spouse, Wanek contributed $839,400 to
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
's
2020 presidential campaign.
Personal life
He is married to Joyce; they have three children and live in
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the fifth-most populous city in Florida and the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area, after Tampa. It is the ...
.
His son
Todd R. Wanek is the CEO of Ashley Furniture.
[
In 1998, Wanek and his wife Joyce started the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation. The foundation donates to causes including children and families charities, medical research, education, arts and U.S. armed forces.]
References
External links
Furniture Hall Of Fame Inducts Ashley Founder Ron Wanek
at RTO Online.
1941 births
American billionaires
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)
20th-century American businesspeople
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