Arthur Blank

Arthur Blank was born in 1942 in Flushing, Queens, New York. He earned a degree in accounting from Babson College and built his early career in financial management, eventually becoming chief financial officer of Handy Dan Home Improvement Centers, where he worked closely with Bernie Marcus. Fired alongside Marcus in 1978, Blank channeled his financial and operational expertise into building Home Depot's operational infrastructure and financial systems. He served as co-chairman and president of Home Depot until 2001, when he purchased the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise, later becoming an influential figure in Atlanta civic life through extensive real estate and philanthropic activity.

Arthur Blank is the co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc. And a two-time entrepreneurial success story who built one of America's most beloved sports franchises after departing the company he helped create. A native of Queens, New York, Blank brought financial discipline and operational rigor to Home Depot's founding team, serving as the critical counterweight to Bernie Marcus's visionary salesmanship. As CFO and later president of the company from 1978 to 2001, Blank oversaw the financial architecture that allowed Home Depot to grow rapidly without losing control of its balance sheet—a challenge that defeated many rapid-growth retailers of the era. After leaving Home Depot, Blank purchased the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise in 2002 and has since invested hundreds of millions of dollars in stadium development, youth sports programs, and community development in the Atlanta metropolitan area. He is also a co-owner of Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer. Blank's philanthropic work through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has distributed more than $600 million to organizations focused on youth development, education, and community enrichment.