Bernie Marcus, Home Depot Co-Founder and Republican Megadonor, Dies at 95

Bernie Marcus

Bernard "Bernie" Marcus, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot, passed away at 95, the company announced on Tuesday. A retail visionary and outspoken conservative, Marcus helped transform the home improvement industry by creating Home Depot with business partner Arthur Blank in 1978. The company grew into a retail giant with more than 2,300 stores and a market valuation of nearly $400 billion. Home Depot expressed deep sorrow over his passing, citing the "immeasurable debt of gratitude" owed to Marcus for his contributions to the company and its values.

Born in 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish immigrants, Marcus was the youngest of four siblings. After studying merchandising and marketing at Rutgers University, he worked in various retail roles before meeting Arthur Blank at Handy Dan Home Improvement in California. Fired by new management, the two entrepreneurs decided to start their own company, one that would focus on superior customer service and knowledgeable staff. This idea led to the founding of Home Depot, which revolutionized the hardware store concept and became an industry leader.

Marcus served as Home Depot's CEO until 1997 and continued as chairman until his retirement in 2002. Under his leadership, the company expanded rapidly and became a household name. His legacy extended beyond the retail world into philanthropy, particularly in Atlanta, where Home Depot was headquartered. Marcus and his wife, Billi, were major donors to causes like autism research, children's healthcare, and public institutions. They established the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and donated $250 million to help fund the construction of the Georgia Aquarium.

In addition to these charitable efforts, Marcus supported various medical centers, including the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital and the Marcus Heart and Vascular Center at Piedmont Hospital. His generosity was a significant part of his legacy, with his philanthropic endeavors impacting both the local community in Atlanta and national causes. Despite his wealth and success, Marcus remained committed to improving the lives of others, particularly children and families in need.

Throughout his life, Marcus was known for his strong political views and was a prominent Republican megadonor. He donated millions of dollars to conservative candidates, including the late Senator John McCain, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former President Donald Trump. His outspoken support of Trump sparked controversy, with some calling for boycotts of Home Depot in the 2016 and 2019 elections due to his political affiliations. Marcus made frequent appearances on conservative TV networks, where he discussed his views on capitalism and his concerns about the direction of the country.

In a 2022 interview with The Financial Times, Marcus expressed his worries about the decline of work ethic in America and what he perceived as the rise of socialism. He criticized what he saw as a culture of entitlement and laziness, lamenting that people no longer valued hard work. Marcus also voiced concerns about the erosion of free speech, claiming that "woke" culture had taken over society. Despite the controversy surrounding his political beliefs, Marcus’s influence on both the business world and conservative politics left a lasting mark on the country.

Bernie Marcus, Home Depot Co-Founder and Republican Megadonor, Dies at 95