If you enjoyed Super Bowl LI you’ve no doubt seen the animated Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. This billionaire made his fortune co-founding one of the most successful home improvement chains. These days Blank spends his time dancing on the sidelines as his Falcons enjoy a very good year.
Here are some quick facts on Blank via heavy.
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1. Blank Is Worth More Than $3 Billion
Forbes Magazine has pegged Blanks as one of the United States’ richest people.
According to Forbes, Blanks is worth at least $3.3 billion. That makes Blank the 214th richest person on Forbes’ 2017 list.
2. Blank Made His Fortune Through the Home Depot Chain
According to Forbes, Blank is a self-made entrepreneur. His mother, Molly Blank, took over a family pharmaceutical company when her husband died when Arthur was 15, but Arthur ended up making his fortune in the home improvement business, according to USA Today.
“Arthur Blank and fellow billionaire Bernie Marcus cofounded Home Depot in 1978 after they were fired from their jobs at a regional home improvement store,” the site reported. “The company grew to be one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers, with over 2,200 stores across the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
3. Blank Pledged to Take Every Employee in the Falcons Organization to the Super Bowl
Blank was lauded as a great boss when it was revealed he planned to take every employee from the Atlanta Falcons organization to the Super Bowl.
According to SBNation, since the Falcons were going to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years, Blank was “putting two and two together and taking everyone who works for the organization to the game with him.”
4. Blank’s Dance Moves Have Gone Viral & He Subtly Criticized Donald Trump’s Wall
According to 11Alive, Blank has become known for his dance moves, something that surprised the 70-something.
“Blank, whose dance moves after each game of the NFL Playoffs has gone viral, said he’s surprised by all the attention he’s been getting,” the news site reported, quoting Blank as saying, “It looks more like chicken flapping to me, but it’s great.”
President Donald Trump’s long-time friendships with top New England Patriots are well known. Blank, who is Jewish, took a subtle shot at Trump’s wall in an interview, USA Today reported, saying, “I care deeply about those values,” said Blank, who is Jewish. He was talking about the anti-Trump protests.
“It’s what drives all our foundation work and all of our businesses,” he said, according to USA Today. “So, I want to continue to support people who look for answers that are embracing and are inclusive, and not building either physical walls or emotional walls or walls of language. That’s not what’s made our country great.
5. In 2003, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot was divorced by his then-wife, Stephanie Blank. He has since remarried.
Angie Macuga is the third wife of the Home Depot founder, sports magnate and all-around generous Atlanta philanthropist.