Richard James Uihlein (also known as Richard J. Uihlein) is an American billionaire businessman and prominent conservative political donor. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Uline Corporation, a major distributor of shipping, packaging, and industrial supplies based in Wisconsin that has grown into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with warehouses across North America, employing thousands and generating annual revenues exceeding $5 billion. He and his wife Elizabeth are co-owners of the company. Born in 1945 to Edgar Uihlein, a descendant of the Schlitz brewing family and co-founder of General Binding Corporation, and Lucia Ellis Uihlein, he grew up in a family with deep ties to the brewing industry and business enterprises. Uihlein attended Phillips Academy Andover and Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history, graduating around 1967. He began his career in 1967 at General Binding Corporation, working in international sales until 1980, when he and his wife Elizabeth co-founded Uline.

Uihlein and his wife Elizabeth are heirs to the Schlitz brewing fortune and have amassed significant wealth through Uline. They are among the largest individual donors to Republican causes, contributing hundreds of millions to conservative political action committees, candidates, and organizations since the 2010s, with at least $5 million spent in recent elections backing Republican Party initiatives. Their donations have supported figures like Donald Trump, Ron Johnson, and Tommy Tuberville, as well as anti-abortion groups, anti-union efforts, anti-immigration causes, election denial efforts, and climate change skeptics such as The Heartland Institute, where they are major donors promoting conservative policy agendas. Their political activities have positioned them as key influencers in right-wing networks, often funding efforts aligned with anti-establishment and libertarian-leaning conservatism, shaping conservative networks in the United States. Their donations have drawn scrutiny, including allegations of using shell companies and straw donors to circumvent campaign finance limits, leading to investigations by federal authorities and public condemnation from watchdog groups.

Despite their business success and political influence, the Uihleins maintain a relatively low public profile, focusing on family-run operations at Uline while wielding substantial behind-the-scenes power through their wealth and philanthropy. Richard Uihlein's background in sales and family legacy in manufacturing and brewing have shaped his entrepreneurial approach, emphasizing direct-to-consumer distribution models. He has been profiled in major media outlets like Forbes and The New York Times for his business acumen and political activism, often criticized for bankrolling divisive causes. No major criminal convictions are recorded, but his donation practices have faced legal challenges.