Arthur Blank | |
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Arthur Blank in 2016
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Born |
Sunnyside, New York |
September 27, 1942
Education | Babson College (B.S.B.A.) |
Occupation | Home Depot co-founder, Atlanta Falcons owner, Atlanta United owner, businessman |
Net worth | US$3.1 billion (August 2016) |
Spouse(s) | Diana J. Blank (divorced) Stephanie V. Blank (divorced) Angela Macuga |
Children |
with Diana Blank: --Kenny Blank --Dena Blank --Danielle Blank with Stephanie Blank: --Max Blank --Kylie Blank --Josh Blank |
Website | www |
Arthur M. Blank (born September 27, 1942) is an American businessman and a co-founder of The Home Depot. Today he is known for his philanthropy, his ownership of the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League, and his ownership of Atlanta United in Major League Soccer. He is a director on the board of Cox Enterprises.
Arthur Blank was born to his father, Max and his mother, Molly; he has an older brother, Michael. Blank graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City and went on to attend Babson College, where he graduated in three years in 1963 with a B.S. degree in business administration and accounting. He also received an honorary degree from Furman University.
After graduating from Babson College, Blank was hired by Arthur Young and Company, where he was a senior accountant. He later joined the Daylin Corporation, where he rose to become president of Elliott's Drug Stores/Stripe Discount Stores, a division of Daylin. When Daylin decided to sell off that division, Blank moved to another division, Handy Dan Home Improvement Centers. Bernard Marcus was CEO of Handy Dan and Blank was vice president of finance when both were fired in 1978 as part of an internal power struggle.
In 1978, Blank co-founded Home Depot with Marcus. New York investment banker Ken Langone assembled the initial group of investors and merchandising guru Patrick Farrah helped founders realize their vision of one-stop shopping for the do-it-yourselfer. The store revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept and Blank and Marcus became billionaires as a result. Blank spent 19 years as the company's president before succeeding Marcus as CEO. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman.