The Home Depot Cofounder Bernard Marcus: A Life in Retail and Philanthropy

Bernard "Bernie" Marcus, co-creator of the mega-retailer The Home Depot, has passed away at the age of 95. Marcus, along with Arthur Blank, started the company back in 1978. They transformed the home improvement industry with their innovative approach, turning The Home Depot into a retail giant with over 2, 300 stores and a market value nearing $400 billion. Marcus was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish immigrants. He studied merchandising and marketing at Rutgers University. His early career involved working for various retail chains, including Handy Dan Home Improvement, where he met Blank. After both were fired, the duo decided to create something bigger and better. The Home Depot was born—a revolutionary store that combined the best elements of traditional hardware stores with superior staff training.

Marcus served as the CEO of The Home Depot until 1997 and as chairman until his retirement in 2002. Beyond his business achievements, Marcus was widely known for his philanthropy. He and his wife, Billi, founded the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University. The couple also contributed significantly to medical and Jewish organizations, and their $250 million grant helped open the Georgia Aquarium. Marcus was a vocal Republican and supported various conservative politicians. He openly backed former President Donald Trump and often shared his views on right-wing media. Despite some controversy, his contributions to retail and philanthropy remain notable.

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