Bernard Marcus: The Legacy of a Retail Visionary and Political Figure

The Home Depot family mourns the loss of Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, its co-founder and an influential GOP donor, who died at 95. In a statement, the company paid tribute: “We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Bernie.” Marcus, who built a net worth of $7.4 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, founded the home improvement giant with Arthur Blank in 1978. Their innovative, customer-centered approach helped grow The Home Depot into a retail powerhouse with 2,300 stores and a market valuation nearing $400 billion.

Marcus, born in 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish immigrants, was the youngest of four children. After studying merchandising and marketing at Rutgers University, he entered the retail industry, eventually crossing paths with Arthur Blank while both worked at Handy Dan Home Improvement in California. Following their dismissal, Marcus and Blank envisioned a large-scale home improvement chain with highly trained staff, giving rise to The Home Depot.

Marcus served as CEO until 1997 and as chairman until his retirement in 2002. Atlanta, where the company first opened, also became the center of Marcus' philanthropic efforts, including establishing the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University with his wife, Billi, to assist children with developmental disabilities. Their $250 million donation also helped create the Georgia Aquarium, a landmark attraction that opened in 2005.

Known for his outspoken political views, Marcus was a staunch Republican supporter, backing high-profile conservatives such as the late Senator John McCain, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former President Donald Trump. His alignment with Trump, however, sparked calls for boycotts of The Home Depot in both 2016 and 2019. Marcus remained vocal about his concerns, stating in a 2022 Financial Times interview that he was “worried about capitalism” in America, asserting that “woke” values and "socialism" were undermining traditional work ethics.

The Home Depot praised Marcus’ business acumen, describing him as “a master merchant and a retail visionary” and acknowledging his deep care for employees and customers. Marcus’ impact is not only felt in the business world but also through the values he embedded in the company, his philanthropic legacy, and his outspoken political influence. His contributions endure as a testament to his life’s work.