John Robert Menard Jr. (born January 22, 1940) is an American entrepreneur and billionaire who is the founder and owner of Menards, a Midwestern chain of home improvement stores. He is also a former IndyCar racing team owner. He is also the father of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard. He is the 136th richest person in the world, and the 68th richest person in the United States.
Life and education
The oldest of eight siblings in a Catholic family with German, French-Canadian, Norwegian roots, Menard attended Eau Claire Regis High School. Menard graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a degree in business and a minor in psychology. Menard began his career constructing pole buildings with friends from college. He made his home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Menard has six children, and married his third wife, Fay Obiad in 2008.
Menards
Motorsports involvement
Paul Menard, John Jr.’s son, is the driver of the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Menard also owns an engine shop in the United Kingdom that produced engines for Team Menard and Robby Gordon Motorsports, the former of which, owned by Menard, won the 1997 and 1999 Indy Racing League championships.
John Menard, Jr. Net Worth: John R. Menard, Jr. is an American entrepreneur and billionaire who a net worth of $12.5 billion. John Menard, Jr. was born January 22, 1940 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He is the founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement chain. He is also a former IndyCar racing team owner. Menard is a partner in Robby Gordon Motorsports with NASCAR owner and driver Robby Gordon. He is also the father of NASCAR driver Paul Menard. John Menard, Jr. opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2005, Menards had reportedly grossed an estimated $5.5 billion in sales and at 2011 his company owned 262 Menards stores. Menard also owns an engine shop in the United Kingdom that produced engines for Team Menard and Robby Gordon Motorsports, the former of which won the 1997 and 1999 Indy Racing League championships. His reputation has suffered over the years due to a slew of lawsuits alleging sexism, ageism and discrimination; the most recent of which (2013) alleges he pressured the wife of his former business partner for sex and then attempted to financially ruin the couple. Menard ousted his former investment partner, Stephen Hilbert, a 20% shareholder in MH Equity, for mismanaging assets and resources. Hilbert’s wife, Tomisue, in turn filed a lawsuit alleging that her husband’s forced departure from MH Equity came as a result of her denial of Menard’s sexual advances. She states Menard touched her without consent, suggested Tomisue join his wife in sexual activities and threatened financial consequences if Tomisue denied his advances. Menard’s defense describes the lawsuit as an attempt to get at Menard for removing Hilbert from management of MH Equity.
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