# Bernie Marcus

> Bernard “Bernie” Marcus (1929-2024) co-founded The Home Depot in 1978 after losing his job at Handy Dan. He served as its first CEO and later focused on philanthropy through The Marcus Foundation, including the founding of Georgia Aquarium with his wife, Billi. An outspoken advocate of free enterprise and Republican donor, he also wrote about entrepreneurship and giving.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, retail executive, philanthropist, and author
- **Organizations:** The Home Depot, The Marcus Foundation, Georgia Aquarium, Handy Dan Improvement Centers, Job Creators Network, The Homer Fund
- **From:** Newark, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Rutgers University
- **Known for:** Co-founded The Home Depot and served as its first CEO., Bernie and Billi Marcus made a $255 million founding gift to Georgia Aquarium, according to The Marcus Foundation., Bernie and Billi Marcus donated more than $2 billion, according to their foundation.

## Career timeline

- **1929** — Born in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish immigrant parents.
- **1954** — Graduated from Rutgers University’s pharmacy school.
- **1972** — Was chairman and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers.
- **1978** — Fired from Handy Dan in April; co-founded The Home Depot.
- **1979** — First two Home Depot stores opened in Atlanta on June 22.
- **1981** — The Home Depot went public.
- **1989** — Established The Marcus Foundation with Billi Marcus.
- **1997** — Arthur Blank succeeded him as CEO; Marcus remained chairman.
- **1999** — Co-authored Built from Scratch; helped establish The Homer Fund.
- **2002** — Retired as Home Depot chairman.
- **2005** — Georgia Aquarium opened to the public on November 23.
- **2010** — Bernie and Billi Marcus joined the Giving Pledge.
- **2022** — Published Kick Up Some Dust with Catherine Lewis.
- **2024** — Died on November 4 in Boca Raton, Florida, aged 95.

## Achievements

- Co-founded The Home Depot and served as its first CEO.
- Bernie and Billi Marcus made a $255 million founding gift to Georgia Aquarium, according to The Marcus Foundation.
- Bernie and Billi Marcus donated more than $2 billion, according to their foundation.
- Joined the Giving Pledge in 2010.
- Inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2006.

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Marcus died on November 4, aged 95; The Home Depot published a remembrance the following day.
- **2025-06** — Job Creators Network announced a Telly Award for its 2024 tribute video to Marcus.
- **2025-11** — Georgia Aquarium marked 20 years since its November 2005 opening.

## Links

- Website: https://marcusfoundation.org/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bernie-marcus
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13