W. Craig Jelinek Biography: Net Worth, Wife, Age, Children, Instagram, Height, Wikipedia

Walter Craig Jelinek is an American businessman who served as president and CEO of Costco from 2012 to 2023, succeeding the company’s founder, James Sinegal.

Jelinek joined Costco in 1984 as a warehouse manager and held various leadership roles throughout his career, including Executive Vice President of Merchandising.

He became a board member in February 2010. After stepping down as CEO, he will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until April 2024.

Profile

• Full Name: Walter Craig Jelinek
• Stage Name: W. Craig Jelinek
• Born: August 8, 1952
• Age: 72 years old
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American businessman
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Walter Adolph Jelinek ,Erdene Gordon.
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Mary Jelinek (m.? – 2023)
• Children: 2
• Relationship: Widow
• Net Worth: $300 million

Early Life And Education

Walter Craig Jelinek was born on August 8, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, to Walter Adolph Jelinek and Erdene Gordon.

His father was of Czech descent. While it is possible he grew up with siblings, their names are not publicly known. Jelinek graduated from Antelope Valley High School in 1970 before pursuing higher education.

In 1975, Jelinek earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University. Although his religious beliefs are not publicly known, he is of Czech descent.

Career

Walter Craig Jelinek began his career in retail, working part-time as a food stocker at FedMart during high school.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University in 1975, he held management roles at FedMart and Lucky Stores before joining Costco in 1984 as a warehouse manager.

Following the Price Club merger, he became the manager of Costco’s Northwest region. Jelinek was promoted to Executive Vice President of Merchandising in 2004, and in 2010, he joined Costco’s board, with speculation rising that he would soon succeed as CEO.

In 2010, Jelinek was named president of Costco, and he succeeded James Sinegal as CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, Costco expanded its reach and became a major global retailer. Jelinek also served on the Costco Wholesale UK Ltd board, further extending his influence within the company.

By 2018, his annual salary was $800,000, increasing to $1 million by 2020. In that year, his total compensation reached $8.3 million. In 2023, Jelinek’s total compensation soared to $16.9 million, a figure 336 times the median employee pay at Costco.

In October 2023, Jelinek announced his decision to step down as CEO by the end of the year, with Ron Vachris succeeding him as president and COO in January 2024.

Jelinek will remain with Costco in an advisory role until April 2024 and continue to serve on the company’s board.

His tenure marked significant growth for the company, leaving a lasting impact on Costco’s global operations.

Social Media

• Twitter handle: @craig_jelinek

Personal Life

W. Craig Jelinek, the former CEO of Costco, was married to Mary Jelinek, who passed away on March 6, 2023, after an 18-month battle with ovarian cancer.

They had a close relationship, and her death was a significant loss for him. Jelinek has two children, though their names remain private.

Net Worth

W. Craig Jelinek’s estimated net worth is around $300 million, mainly due to his long tenure at Costco, where he served as CEO from 2012.

His wealth is primarily tied to his stock holdings in the company, with approximately 400,000 shares valued between $200 million and $340 million, depending on market fluctuations.