Short answers, pulled from the story.
Home Depot was co-founded in 1978 by Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, and Ken Langone. The first two stores opened on the 22nd of June 1979 in metro Atlanta, in spaces previously used by Treasure Island hypermarket stores.
Home Depot reported $159.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024. The company also had approximately 470,100 associates as of that period.
Home Depot closed all of its big-box stores in China by September 2012, citing a cultural mismatch with its do-it-yourself model. A company spokeswoman said Home Depot had misread the country's appetite for DIY products, noting that China is more of a "do-it-for-me culture" where consumers prefer seeing finished products rather than raw materials.
Between April and September 2014, hackers breached Home Depot's payment systems and obtained 56 million credit card numbers. The breach was confirmed on the 8th of September 2014. In March 2016, Home Depot agreed to pay at least $19.5 million to compensate affected consumers.
Homer D. Poe is Home Depot's mascot, introduced in 1981 and designed by illustrator Gwyn Raker. He appears in advertising, on signage, in store awards, and in a life-size costume stores can rent. The Homer Fund, a charitable program for associates, is named after him.
Robert Nardelli resigned as Home Depot CEO on the 2nd of January 2007, after a six-year tenure. His departure came amid criticism of his heavy-handed management style and a pay package of $123.7 million over five years, even as Home Depot's stock underperformed against Lowe's. His severance package of $210 million drew particular scrutiny.