Marcus made his fortune co-founding home improvement chain Home Depot, alongside Arthur Blank. The first two Home Depot stores opened in Atlanta in 1979. Marcus was a part of making it the largest home improvement retailer in the world.
But it wasn’t just his self-made fortune that Marcus was known for. Marcus donated over $2 billion to nonprofits over the past three decades.
“Bernie’s impact extends far beyond the aisles of our stores; his philanthropic efforts touched countless lives and communities. He believed in the power of giving back and dedicated himself to making a difference in the world,” Blank said in a statement.
Marcus particularly focused on improving the health of others. He helped fund health centers and hospitals in Atlanta from Piedmont Hospital’s Marcus Heart and Vascular Center to the Shepherd Center.
Marcus was also behind the revitalization of Grady Memorial Hospital with a Stroke Center and a Trauma and Emergency Center.
“Stroke Center. Heart Center. Grady. Piedmont. He was so wise and so helpful and so caring,” Alana Shepherd, co-founder of Shepherd Center, told Channel 2 Action News.
Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank Co-founders of Home Depot Bernie Marcus (left) and Arthur Blank (right)
Bernie Marcus FILE PHOTO: Home Depot CEO Bernie Marcus poses for a portrait in a Home Depot store October 15, 1998. (Photo by Erik Lesser/Liaison) (Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)
World?s Largest Aquarium Set To Open ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 19: Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus speaks prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Georgia Aquarium November 19, 2005 in Atlanta, Goergia. The Georgia Aquarium, the world'd largest by gallons, 8 million plus, and by the number of fish, 100,000 plus, opens to the public November 23, 2005. Funding for the Georgia Aquarium was made possible by a 200 million dollar gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi through the Marcus Foundation. (Photo by Barry Williams/Getty Images) (Barry Williams/Getty Images)
World?s Largest Aquarium Set To Open ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 19: (R-L) Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, Georgia Governor Sunny Perdue, Air Tran COO Bob Fornaro, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin cut the opening ribbon to the Georgia Aquarium November 19, 2005 in Atlanta, Goergia. The Georgia Aquarium, the world'd largest by gallons, 8 million plus, and by the number of fish, 100,000 plus, opens to the public November 23, 2005. Funding for the Georgia Aquarium was made possible by a 200 million dollar gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi through the Marcus Foundation. (Photo by Barry Williams/Getty Images) (Barry Williams/Getty Images)
Bernie Marcus FILE - Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus appears on "Cavuto: Coast to Coast," with anchor Neil Cavuto, on the Fox Business Network, in New York, June 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) (Richard Drew/AP)
Bernie Marcus Bernie Marcus (left) and Arthur Blank (right) pose for a photo in 1980s. The two founded Home Depot in 1978. (The Home Depot)
Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank Bernie Marcus (left) and Arthur Blank (right) pose for a photo in 1980s. The two founded Home Depot in 1978.
Bernie Marcus Bernie Marcus speaks at the grand opening of first grand opening for Home Depot.