Howard Butt III is an American businessman, the billionaire CEO of the H-E-B Grocery Company, one of the largest and most beloved privately held supermarket chains in the United States. His wealth is generational, tied to the empire founded by his great-grandmother, Florence Butt, who started the company with $60 in 1905 in Kerrville, Texas.

Howard III's career is defined by his executive leadership in the family business and his deep commitment to religious and social philanthropy. His uncle, Charles Butt (the company Chairman), famously built H-E-B into a multi-billion dollar giant and committed the family to a philosophy of giving 5 percent of pretax profits to charity each year.

• H-E-B Grocery Company (CEO & Board Member): The core private asset, one of the largest and most successful supermarket chains in the U.S., operating 449 stores in Texas and Mexico.
• Religious Philanthropy: His family is profoundly committed to Christian philanthropy (associated with the Butt Family Foundation).
• Family Governance: He succeeded his uncle, Charles Butt, in the CEO role, maintaining family leadership over the multi-billion dollar company.
• Retail Strategy: His success is built on the company's reputation for high quality, low prices, and intense customer loyalty in the Texas market.

Howard Butt III assumed the role of CEO of H-E-B and serves on the board. His brother, Stephen Butt, is the President of Shareholder Relations and the company's high-end Central Market specialty food division, ensuring shared generational executive control. The family owns an estimated 90 percent of the $42.5 billion (sales) company.

His structural contribution is ensuring H-E-B maintains its unique corporate culture, built on the founder's commitment to care for people and communities. He guides the company's expansion and dedication to giving 5 percent of pretax profits to charity each year. His wealth is tied to the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the high-volume Texas retail market and his family's tight control over the essential consumer staples sector.

Howard Butt III's social impact is massive and structural, stemming from H-E-B's role as a major regional employer (160,000 employees) and foundational provider of essential food and consumer goods. His company contributes significantly to the economic stability of Texas and Mexico.

The family's structural contribution to philanthropy is immense: the 5 percent of pretax profits dedicated to charity annually is a major model for corporate social responsibility. His focus on Christian philanthropy and community support (disaster relief, hunger relief, education) defines the moral core of the family's legacy.

Howard Butt III maintains the professional, conservative style of a Texas corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic is one of stability and low-profile authority, reflecting the family's emphasis on Christian values and corporate culture.

Residing in San Antonio, Texas, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the stewardship of his family's retail legacy, high-level business management, and large-scale religious philanthropy.