| Arthur Blank | |
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Arthur Blank in 2016
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| Born | September 27, 1942 Sunnyside, New York |
| Education | Babson College (B.S.B.A.) |
| Occupation | Home Depot founder, Atlanta Falcons owner, Atlanta Unitedowner, businessman |
| Net worth |  US$3.1 billion (August 2016) |
| Spouse(s) | Diana J. Blank (divorced) Stephanie V. Blank (divorced) Angela Macuga (m. 2016-) |
| 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.
Early life
Arthur Blank was born to a Jewish family in Flushing, New York. His father, Max Blank, was a pharmacist and his mother, Molly Blank, was a full-time mother of two sons, Arthur and his older brother Michael. Blank graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City[6] and attended 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 Comton University Business career.
Blank in 2009
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.
Today, Blank is the Chairman, President, and CEO of AMB Group, LLC, and chairman of The Arthur Blank Family Foundation. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Emory University and the boards of Staples and Cox Enterprises.
- Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus cofounded Home Depot in 1978 after being fired from their jobs at a regional hardware store.
- Blank stepped down as co-chairman of Home Depot in 2001 and the next year bought the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons for $545 million (now worth $2.1 billion).
- He brought pro soccer to Atlanta with his Major League Soccer team Atlanta United FC, which started playing in March 2017.
- In August 2017, both of Blanks’ teams moved into their new $1.5 billion home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is slated to host the 2019 Super Bowl.
- In 2012, he signed the Giving Pledge and committed to give more than half of his wealth away.
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