Born in Queens, New York City, in 1942, Arthur M. Blank is a self-made American billionaire, the co-founder of The Home Depot, and the owner of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL). His early life was grounded in business and accounting: he earned a business degree from Babson College in Massachusetts in 1963. He spent his early career working at an accounting firm before joining his father’s small pharmaceutical company.

His career took a new direction when the family business was acquired by Daylin in 1968, which owned the Handy Dan home improvement chain. Blank moved to the South, quickly rising to President and CEO of Daylin's discount drugstore chain in 1972. This period was crucial: he met Bernie Marcus at Handy Dan, a fellow executive with whom he shared a vision for a revolutionary retail concept, a partnership forged in corporate adversity.

Arthur Blank’s defining entrepreneurial act came in 1978. After he and Bernie Marcus were both fired from Handy Dan, they merged their assets and a shared frustration with the existing retail model to found The Home Depot. Their vision was radical: creating massive home-improvement warehouses, larger than any competitor's, filled with a vast array of products and staffed by knowledgeable, customer-service experts—a combination the market desperately lacked.

The Home Depot's aggressive growth redefined retail, making Blank a multi-billionaire. After retiring from The Home Depot in 2001, Blank transitioned to his next major mission: sports and philanthropy. In 2002, he purchased the Atlanta Falcons NFL team, committing to transforming the franchise's talent, community role, and fan experience. He later founded the MLS team Atlanta United FC. Blank’s career is a unique blend of retail revolution, sports ownership, and deeply committed community leadership, guided by a core set of values applied to all his ventures.

Arthur Blank is a world-renowned philanthropist, whose giving is structured under the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (established in 1995). His philanthropy has granted over $250 million to support five core areas, all run based on a common set of core values (e.g., treating people with respect).

• Core Focus: Early childhood development, education, the arts, and parks/greenspace in the Atlanta area.
• Sports Philanthropy: His ownership of the Falcons and United FC is tied to the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, which has donated millions to community non-profits, using the team's platform for social good.
• Civic Infrastructure: Blank financed the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility that is a major architectural and civic landmark for the city of Atlanta.

Arthur Blank projects the approachable, disciplined style of a dedicated Southern CEO and team owner. His attire is typically professional, favoring tailored suits or polished sports coats for games and corporate events, often paired with an official team accessory. His aesthetic reflects a blend of corporate gravitas and enthusiastic sports patronage.

His lifestyle is centered in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is a central figure in business, sports, and philanthropy. His luxury is expressed through the ownership of championship-level teams and the ability to finance and build massive civic assets like the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. His wealth funds a life of active community engagement and is guided by a commitment to core values—a unique expression of billionaire affluence in the modern era.