Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, billionaire and co-founder of Home Depot, known for his strong support of former President Donald Trump, has passed away, as confirmed by the company on Tuesday.

He was 95 years old.

Once recognized by Forbes as Georgia’s wealthiest individual, Marcus gained his fortune after launching the first two Home Depot stores in Atlanta in 1979 with partner Arthur Blank. The retailer, famous for its vibrant orange branding, has expanded to over 2,300 locations across North America, employing nearly half a million people.

In 2022, Marcus released a memoir titled “Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself,” featuring a foreword by Pitbull. The book recounts his journey in building the largest home improvement store worldwide, stemming from his humble beginnings as the son of a cabinet maker, who was dismissed from his job at 49.

Marcus was known for his political donations as a prominent supporter of the Republican Party and Trump’s campaigns since 2016.

In a statement, Home Depot honored Marcus, saying, “Bernie inspired many with his exceptional skills as a merchant and his dedication to customer care. He had an immense appreciation for our customers and the employees who built the company.”

Marcus was a founder of Home Depot alongside Arthur Blank

Marcus was born in 1929 to Russian Jewish immigrants and spent his early years in a Newark, New Jersey tenement, as noted by Home Depot.

He attended pharmacy school at Rutgers University and climbed the corporate ladder at various companies before becoming the chairman and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers in 1972, where he met Blank.

For years, Marcus and Blank envisioned a larger DIY store than the conventional hardware outlets. After being let go from Handy Dan in 1978, they obtained funding from investment banker Ken Langone to realize their vision.

The following year, the inaugural Home Depot outlets were launched. Marcus served as CEO until 1997 and continued as chairman until retiring in 2002.

A committed philanthropist, Marcus founded the Marcus Foundation, which aims to further his legacy, focusing on Jewish causes, children’s welfare, medical research, free enterprise, and community support, according to Home Depot.

Bernie Marcus was a longtime supporter of Trump and the Republican Party

As a staunch Republican, Marcus initially backed Trump’s 2016 campaign and subsequently supported his 2020 reelection effort.

In 2019, social media campaigns encouraged boycotting Home Depot after news broke that Marcus was endorsing Trump’s second presidential run. This backlash followed his comments in an interview where he acknowledged Trump’s poor communication skills but credited his positive impacts on employment and foreign policy.

In response to the criticism, Trump rallied to Marcus’ defense on social media, labeling him as a “truly great, patriotic & charitable man” on Twitter, now referred to as X.

Home Depot distanced itself from the political views of its co-founder, stating, “as a matter of standard practice, we do not endorse candidate for President.”

Contributors: Charisse Jones, YSL News