Who is RNC speaker and Wisconsin billionaire Diane Hendricks?
Diane Hendricks, one of the richest people in Wisconsin, will speak at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night.
A northwestern Wisconsin native, Hendricks is one of several speakers with Wisconsin ties who will take the stage at the convention. Hendricks is not a new face to the GOP: The businesswoman has been a longtime donor and advocate of conservative causes, including Donald Trump's presidential campaigns.
Here's everything you need to know about Hendricks ahead of her RNC speech.
Who is Diane Hendricks?
Hendricks is the co-founder of Beloit-based ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing supplies and one of the largest distributors of siding and windows in North America. She founded the company in 1982 with her husband, Ken; she has been the chairwoman and sole owner since his death in 2007.
ABC Supply currently has 694 locations across the U.S. and Canada, according to its website. Hendricks also owns a real estate development firm and a holding company with stakes in 18 businesses, Forbes reported in 2022.
With an estimated net worth of $20.9 billion, the 77-year-old topped the 2024 Forbes' list of richest self-made women in America — the seventh year in a row she's led the list. She was also the 92nd-richest person in the world in 2024, according to Forbes.
In 2016, the Journal Sentinel reported that Hendricks did not pay any state income tax between 2012 and 2014, despite her net worth of nearly $5 billion at the time. It remains unclear why Hendricks owed no taxes for three consecutive years.
Where in Wisconsin is Diane Hendricks from?
Hendricks grew up on a dairy farm in Osseo, a city south of Eau Claire with a population of just under 1,800. She was one of nine daughters and moved to Janesville at 17 years old with her first husband, according to Forbes.
Hendricks later divorced and married Ken, and the couple founded ABC Supply in Beloit. Today, she lives in Afton, which is between Beloit and Janesville.
What is Diane Hendricks' history with the GOP?
Hendricks has been a heavy-hitter donor to Republican campaigns and candidates for years.
From 2019 to 2020, the Wisconsin billionaire donated nearly $13.1 million to Republicans and conservative groups. In 2022, she donated $2 million to a political action committee backing U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's re-election campaign.
Hendricks has also been a supporter of Trump since his first presidential campaign. In 2016, the former president appointed her to his campaign's economic advisory team, and she donated more than $1 million to his 2020 re-election campaign.
When is Diane Hendricks speaking at the RNC?
According to the list of RNC speakers, provided by a source familiar with the lineup, Hendricks will be speaking as an "everyday American" on Thursday, the final night of the convention.
She's scheduled to speak between 6 and 6:30 pm.
Who else is speaking at the RNC?
Speakers at the convention range from politicians to celebrities to Trump family members. Check out the list of announced speakers here.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Diane Hendricks, Wisconsin billionaire, will speak at RNC in Milwaukee
