Buc-ee’s CEO targets conservative states for future expansion

Arch Aplin III, the co-founder and CEO of the travel-center chain Buc-ee’s, has indicated that the company will prioritize expansion into conservative, business-friendly states. Speaking during the opening of the brand's first Arkansas location in Benton, Aplin stated that the company seeks environments where leadership and the workforce appreciate the brand's family-oriented concept.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders supported these remarks, suggesting that businesses are migrating from blue states to red states.

Regarding the personal wealth of Aplin, his net worth remains unverified due to Buc-ee’s status as a privately held company. While online estimates vary widely—ranging from $500 million to over $1.5 billion—no authoritative financial filings or public balance sheets exist to confirm a precise figure. Aplin built his fortune by growing the business from a single Texas convenience store opened in 1982 into a major national travel-center brand.