Arthur Blank

Early Life

Arthur Morris Blank was born in Flushing, Queens, New York, on September 27, 1942. He was born to Jewish parents, Max Blank, a pharmacist, and Molly Blank. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City. Blank earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Babson College in 1963.

Rise to Success

After graduating from Babson College, Blank worked as a senior accountant at Arthur Young and Company. He later joined Daylin Corporation, where he became president of Elliott's Drug Stores/Stripe Discount Stores. In 1978, Blank, along with Bernard Marcus, co-founded The Home Depot. They were fired from Handy Dan Hardware before founding Home Depot. The first two Home Depot stores opened in Atlanta in 1979. He served as co-chairman until 2001. In 2002, Blank purchased the Atlanta Falcons for $545 million.

Key Business Strategies

Blank's business acumen is evident in his ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities. His strategy for Home Depot involved creating large, well-stocked stores with a wide variety of products, catering to both DIY customers and professional contractors. His vision transformed the home improvement industry.

Philanthropy

Blank is a dedicated philanthropist. He established the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995, which has granted over $1 billion to charitable causes. He is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.