Billionaire Philanthropist and Home Depot Co-Founder Passes Away at 95

NEW YORK (AP) — Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, a billionaire philanthropist and the co-founder of The Home Depot, which is the largest home improvement retailer globally, has passed away at the age of 95. His death occurred on Monday in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by family, as confirmed by a representative from Home Depot.

Marcus played a crucial role in Home Depot’s explosive growth during its early years. Serving as the company’s CEO, he helped shape its vision and success until his retirement in 2002, after which he continued to influence the company as the chairman of the board. In the years that followed, he became a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump.

The company released a statement saying, “We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Bernie. He was a master merchant and a retail visionary. But even more importantly, he valued our associates, customers, and communities above all. He’s left us with an invaluable legacy and the backbone of our company: our values and culture.”

Born in 1929 to Russian Jewish immigrants, Marcus grew up in a tenement in Newark, New Jersey. Initially aspiring to be a doctor, financial constraints pushed him to pursue pharmacy instead, ultimately earning a degree from Rutgers University. During his college years, he sometimes skipped classes to sell Amana freezers door-to-door, showcasing his early entrepreneurial spirit.

Following his graduation, Marcus climbed the corporate ladder, taking on roles at the manufacturing company O’Dell’s and the retail chain Vornado. By 1972, he had risen to become the chairman and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers, which was part of the Daylin conglomerate. It was during this time that he formed a strong friendship with Arthur Blank, who would later become his business partner.