Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot and a major Republican donor, died on Monday night at the age of 95.
According to CNN, Marcus had a net worth of roughly $7.4 billion after co-founding Home Depot with Arthur Blank in 1978. The outlet noted that he was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish immigrants and died at his home in Boca Raton, Florida.
The New York Post reported that Marcus’ death was confirmed by an official of Job Creators Network, a small business advocacy group founded by the Home Depot co-founder. The official told The New York Post that Marcus died from natural causes.
“Bernie Marcus was one of the great American business success stories,” Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz said. “But Bernie was so much more than a businessman. He was a visionary, a philanthropist, and a dedicated family man. While The Home Depot grew to become one of the nation’s largest businesses, Bernie never forgot the importance of small businesses to the economy and the country as a whole. He generously tasked JCN with preserving the small business economy against relentless big government attacks.”
Following news of Marcus’ death, a Home Depot spokesperson told The New York Post, “The entire Home Depot family is deeply saddened by the death of our co-founder Bernie Marcus. He was a master merchant and a retail visionary. But even more importantly, he valued our associates, customers and communities above all.”
According to The Post Millennial, Marcus donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The outlet noted that Marcus made numerous appearances in the news in support of the former president and conservative policies.
In a 2022 interview with Financial Times, Marcus warned about the increase of “socialism” in the United States, saying, “Nobody works. Nobody gives a d-mn. ‘Just give it to me. Send me money. I don’t want to work — I’m too lazy, I’m too fat, I’m too stupid.'”
“We used to have free speech here. We don’t have it,” Marcus added. “The woke people have taken over the world. You know, I imagine today they can’t attack me. I’m 93. Who gives a crap about Bernie Marcus?”‘m 93. Who gives a crap about Bernie Marcus?”
