John Menard

State’s 7 Richest People Worth $72 Billion

Up by 28% or a combined $16 billion in just one year.

How Generous Are We?

New data shows how much Milwaukee and Wisconsin give. And flags a troubling trend of wealthy donors.

Uihleins Are Now Billionaires

Top Republican donors join state's leading billionaires John Menard and Diane Hendricks.

UW System Conservative Students Feel Political Pressure In Class

Survey of 10,000 students finds varying views on free speech, pressure from instructors.

Most Popular ‘Back in the News’ Columns

Ron Johnson, Foxconn, Kyle Rittenhouse and the richest people in Wisconsin all made news.

UW System to Relaunch Student Free Speech Survey

Underwritten by John Menard-funded institution.

No One Cancels Kellyanne Conway

No protests of former Trump advisor’s UW-Whitewater speech about suppressing free speech.

State’s 8 Richest People Worth $58 Billion

List of billionaires led by John Menard at $16.6 billion. Super wealthy have helped transform states like Wisconsin.

Controversial UW-System Free Speech Survey Delayed

UW-Whitewater Chancellor resigned over the survey funded by billionaire John Menard.

Wisconsin Billionaires Grew Richer During Pandemic

State's richest person, John Menard, saw his wealth increase nearly 50%.

State Appeals Court Races Getting More Partisan

With big donations from Uihlein, Menard, a 9-1 advantage for GOP-backed candidate.

Meet the Pandemic Profiteers

Menard, Hendricks, Kohler among top 100 plutocrats getting richer during pandemic.

GOP Spends Big on Appeals Court Race

Led by Republican fat cats Richard Uihlein, John Menard. Cost of state appeals court races up 700%.

Loudenslager Formally Ends Campaign for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals After Failing to Obtain Ballot Access

John Menard Loves Universities

With conditions. They get donations. He gets recognition and an honorary degree.

State’s Richest Get Even Richer

New Forbes 400 list includes eight Wisconsinites, led by John Menard, with Diane Hendricks not far behind.

Wisconsin’s Wealth Gap Grows Worse

Pandemic devastates lower and middle class while billionaires get wealthier.

Report: 8 Billionaires in Wisconsin See Net Worth Jump $14.2 Billion or 36.1% in First Three Months of COVID-19 Pandemic

Meanwhile Wisconsinites, State & Local Governments Face Financial Hardship as Congress Stalls on New COVID-19 Financial Aid Package

John Menard and Trump, Together Again

One-time friends had falling out, but now Menard will help president plan economic rebound.

Menards Accused of Price Gouging

Stores in Wisconsin and Michigan at issue, Michigan AG sends cease-and-disest letter.

Menard to Get Honorary Doctorate

First such degree by UW-Eau Claire goes to businessman, record polluter, big GOP donor.

Dark Money Helped Kill Lead Paint Claims

State Republicans facing recalls got $750,000 in secret cash, wrote law to bar suits to benefit lead poisoned children.

Menard Hit With Class Action Suits

One of the world’s richest plutocrats faces multiple suits for chiseling his workers.

John Menard, the Self-Made Man

Forbes ranks him near the top in that category, though below Oprah.

The Hypocrisy of the WMC

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce wants no judge recusals -- except when it benefits them.

Walker’s Pay to Play Revealed

Why the D.A. should investigate deals made by the governor.

13 Lessons The Guardian Taught Us

Or how Scott Walker corrupted Wisconsin, as the leaked Doe documents reveal.

John Menard vs. Donald Trump

Their friendship and later feud gets titillating coverage from Indianapolis Monthly.

John Menard’s Anti-Union Rules

A Menards manager leaks a copy of adamantly anti-union contract used by the company.

Wisconsinites make Forbes’ richest list

Did Menard Buy Protection From Walker?

Billionaire business man and frequent environmental violator gave $1.5 million in dark money to governor.

Report: John Menard gave $1.5 million to conservative group tied to Scott Walker

Attorney General Race Could Be a Sizzler

Happ's dramatic victory sets up clash between two county DAs.

Wisconsin, Land of the Plutocrats

Forbes 400 list offers more evidence of wealth gap in Wisconsin.

The Strange Life of John Menard

A lurid legal suit against him is the latest chapter in the retail billionaire’s bizarre life.

EEOC sues Menards over lack of hiring reports

Menard order to pay for false ad