- Carol Jenkins Barnett is the daughter of Publix supermarket founder George Jenkins and an heir to the Florida-based fortune.
- She owns just under 5% of the business, which is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S.
- After 33 years on the Publix board, she stepped down in June 2016 following a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
- Publix, founded in 1930, employs 190,000 people in 1,190 stores across 7 states and has revenues of over $34 billion.
- She started working for Publix at age 16.
Carol Jenkins Barnett (born September 30, 1956) is an American philanthropist and businesswoman, the daughter of George W. Jenkins, the founder of Publix Super Markets. Jenkins Barnett has served as president of Publix Super Markets Charities and as a member of the board of directors of Publix Super Markets. She has been included in a Forbes magazine list of The World’s Billionaires every year since 2008.
Early life
Carol Jenkins is the daughter of Anne MacGregor and George W. Jenkins.[2] Jenkins Barnett is one of six children: Howard, David, Julie, Nancy and Kenneth. Barnett attended Emory University but later transferred to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida.
Business Career
Jenkins Barnett’s father, George W. Jenkins founded Publix Super Markets. Carol was born in 1956 when Publix was in its heydey. Carol and her five siblings worked at Publix beginning at the age of sixteen. She recalled the time: “The way I grew up, everything was about Publix. We’d go to store openings. I remember attending the 100th store opening when I was eight. I was there for the glory years.”
| Carol Jenkins Barnett | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 30, 1956 Florida, United States |
| Residence | Lakeland, Florida |
| Education | Emory University Florida Southern College |
| Occupation | Businesswoman and Philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Barney Barnett |
| Children | Nicholas and Wesley Barnett |
| Parent(s) | George W. Jenkins Anne MacGregor Jenkins |
| Relatives | Howard Jenkins (brother) |
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