Eleanor Butt Crook & family

CEO, H-E-B

Real-Time Net Worth

$4.4B

As of December 2025

Age

Source

Supermarkets

Industry

fashion-retail

Citizenship

Biography

Eleanor Butt Crook, at 93 years old, is a prominent figure in the American business landscape, primarily known as an heir to the H-E-B grocery fortune. Her family's leadership in H-E-B, a chain of supermarkets with over 400 locations in Texas and Mexico, has been instrumental in the company's success, generating $45 billion in revenue in 2023. Crook serves on H-E-B's board of directors, while also focusing on her philanthropic endeavors. Along with her late husband, Ambassador William Crook, she co-founded the Eleanor Crook Foundation in 1997, which is dedicated to fighting global malnutrition through research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Her career has been marked by a strong commitment to both business and philanthropy, making her a notable figure in both sectors.

Wealth Over Time

Portfolio Holdings

H-E-B

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Eleanor Margaret Butt Crook was born in 1932. She is the daughter of Howard Butt and Mary Holdsworth. Her grandmother, Florence Butt, founded the grocery store chain H-E-B in 1905 after her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Rise to Success

Eleanor Butt Crook inherited her wealth through her family's stake in the H-E-B grocery chain. The family owns approximately 90% of the company. Crook serves on the board of directors, but is not involved in the day-to-day operations.

Key Business Strategies

The success of H-E-B is attributed to several factors including a focus on customer service, community engagement, and adapting to the needs of specific locations. The company has also expanded into Mexico, contributing to its large revenue.

Philanthropy

Eleanor Butt Crook and her late husband, Ambassador William Crook, founded The Eleanor Crook Foundation in 1997. The foundation focuses on fighting global malnutrition by investing in research, policy analysis, and advocacy. The foundation has invested over $100 million in the fight against malnutrition.

Career Milestones

1997

Co-founded the Eleanor Crook Foundation

Eleanor and her late husband, Ambassador William Crook, co-founded the Eleanor Crook Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to fighting global malnutrition.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Global Health

Eleanor Crook Foundation

$100M+

The Eleanor Crook Foundation invests in research, policy analysis, and advocacy to combat global malnutrition.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

""Seeing the Ethiopian famine and the suffering it caused, became a turning point for me, making hunger my focus.""