Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and daughter Paige celebrate New Year in Sydney

Publish date: 2024-08-13

Nancy Walton Laurie, heiress to the Walmart fortune, celebrated New Year's in Sydney aboard her $200 million super-yacht, Secret.

Joined by her daughter Paige Laurie, 32, the 63-year-old peroxide blonde matriarch enjoyed last night's fireworks from a prime position off Point Piper, before attending a New Year's Day bash at Catalina today.

Nancy, daughter of Walmart co-founder Bud Walton and worth an estimated $4.7 billion, was seen having an animated conversation aboard Secret as she enjoyed the beautiful Australian sunshine.

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New Year's Day: Nancy Walton Laurie (left), heiress to the Walmart fortune, celebrated the first day of 2015 in Sydney aboard her $200 million super-yacht with her daughter Paige Laurie (right)

Nancy, who is married to former basketball player Bill Laurie, and Paige, their only offspring, both wore their hair in tousled braids and donned graphic prints.

Paige opted for a snug-fitting green playsuit, while Nancy went for a floaty turquoise and purple dress. 

Nancy's daughter is no-doubt enjoying her new life as a divorcee, having split for her former high school sweetheart and husband of six years, Patrick 'Bo' Dubbert.

It was an ugly separation, during which Paige filed a civil lawsuit against Bo accusing him of stealing thousands of dollars from a business – a Malibu retail center - that they had operated.

Paige and Bo married at a top-secret wedding in Columbia, Missouri, in June 2008. They signed a prenup which not only protected her fortune, but also provided her husband with the right to spousal support if they ever divorced.

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Share Fine day for it: Paige, 32, (left) pictured on the family yacht, Secret, along with some family friends 

Fine day for it: Paige, 32, (left) pictured on the family yacht, Secret, along with some family friends 

All aboard! The 63-year-old peroxide blonde matriarch (center) enjoyed last night's fireworks from a prime position off Point Piper and seemed to be taking it easy today

All aboard! The 63-year-old peroxide blonde matriarch (center) enjoyed last night's fireworks from a prime position off Point Piper and seemed to be taking it easy today

Captain's orders: Nancy, daughter of Walmart co-founder Bud Walton and worth an estimated $4.7 billion, was seen having an animated conversation with a skipper 

Captain's orders: Nancy, daughter of Walmart co-founder Bud Walton and worth an estimated $4.7 billion, was seen having an animated conversation with a skipper 

Ahoy there! The heiress clearly had something important to bestow

Ahoy there! The heiress clearly had something important to bestow

Taking a stroll: Nancy opted for a graphic print dress matched with turquoise accessories as she made her way to a New Year's Day party in Catalina 

Taking a stroll: Nancy opted for a graphic print dress matched with turquoise accessories as she made her way to a New Year's Day party in Catalina 

Dressed for summer: Paige chose a snug-fitting playsuit and wore her hair in a fishtail braid

Brief appearance: Paige, pictured (left) with friends leaving the party at Catalina

Brief appearance: Paige, pictured (left) with friends leaving the party at Catalina

Fancy seeing you here: Nancy enjoyed a catch-up with a friend (pictured) before getting back onto her yacht 

Fancy seeing you here: Nancy enjoyed a catch-up with a friend (pictured) before getting back onto her yacht 

Mine's bigger: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's $250 million super-yacht 'Octopus' pictured (back) next to Nancy's Secret (front)

Mine's bigger: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's $250 million super-yacht 'Octopus' pictured (back) next to Nancy's Secret (front)

Nancy and Paige together caused controversy in 2004 when they made a $25 million naming rights gift towards the building of a new $75 million basketball arena at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

Nancy and her husband Bill decided to name the facility Paige Sports Arena after their daughter.

Neither parents nor daughter had ever attended the university. Paige graduated that year from the University of Southern California and scandal soon followed.

Blondies: Nancy, pictured (left) and Paige (right) at separate events in the past

Now split: Paige (center) and her ex-husband Bo (right) dated during their senior year of high school and married at a top-secret wedding in Columbia, Missouri, in June 2008

Now split: Paige and her ex-husband Bo (left) divorced last March after six years of marriage. Pictured (right) Nancy's late father James Lawrence 'Bud' Walton, a co-founder of Walmart 

Father-daughter: Paige, pictured (left) with her father Bill (right) smile as they announced their $25 million donation in 2001 to build a new basketball arena at the University of Missouri in Columbia

Father-daughter: Paige, pictured (left) with her father Bill (right) smile as they announced their $25 million donation in 2001 to build a new basketball arena at the University of Missouri in Columbia

A former roommate of Paige told ABC’s 20/20 that she had been paid $20,000 over four years to do Paige's homework for her.

Once the allegations emerged, Paige’s parents agreed to let the school rename the arena, which is now known as Mizzou Arena.

In 2005 Paige voluntarily surrendered her USC communication degree.

 

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