David Green

David Green – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

David Green (born November 13, 1941) is the founder of Hobby Lobby and a major evangelical philanthropist. Explore his entrepreneurial journey, faith-driven approach, business philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

David Green (born November 13, 1941) is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and Christian philanthropist best known as the founder of Hobby Lobby, a nationwide chain of arts and crafts stores. His story is one of humble beginnings, faith-based values, bold risk taking, and a vision of business as ministry. Beyond retail, Green has used his wealth and influence to support evangelical causes, fund the Museum of the Bible, and promote what he views as biblical stewardship in business.

Early Life and Family

David Marvin Green was born on November 13, 1941, in Emporia, Kansas.

Growing up, Green moved with his family to Oklahoma, where his upbringing in a pastor’s home emphasized faith, service, humility, and integrity. These values became foundational to his later approach to business and giving.

Notably, he has often acknowledged that his business principles were heavily shaped by his faith and belief in biblical guidelines for stewardship, ethics, and generosity.

Entrepreneurial Beginnings & the Founding of Hobby Lobby

The $600 Startup

Before Hobby Lobby, Green worked as a store manager for the TG&Y variety store chain for about 13 years. $600 to start a side business in his garage, assembling and selling miniature picture frames with a partner, Larry Pico.

By August 1972, Green and his wife opened the first Hobby Lobby store in a 300-square-foot space in northwest Oklahoma City.

Growth and Expansion

In 1975, Green left TG&Y to devote himself full time to Hobby Lobby. 6,000 square feet—indicating the ambition behind the expansion.

Green has emphasized that his business decisions are not driven by conventional business school models but by practical experience, commonsense principles, and a desire to honor his faith in how he runs his enterprises.

Business Philosophy, Faith & Philanthropy

Faith-Driven Business Model

One of the distinguishing features of David Green’s career is his commitment to integrating Christian faith into business practices. He has said repeatedly that he views his enterprises as a platform for service and stewardship, not just profit.

Hobby Lobby is known for closing on Sundays, honoring the Sabbath according to Green’s religious convictions.

Moreover, Green has pledged that half of Hobby Lobby’s pretax earnings will go to evangelical causes and ministries.

He also co-authored books such as Giving It All Away... And Getting It All Back Again, in which he argues that generosity and legacy matter beyond wealth accumulation.

Museum of the Bible & Legacy Projects

One of Green’s most ambitious projects outside of retail is the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. He was a primary funder, investing hundreds of millions of dollars to realize a museum dedicated to the history, message, and cultural impact of the Bible.

However, the museum has faced scrutiny and controversy—most notably over artifacts held by Hobby Lobby that were returned to Iraq and Egypt after being deemed improperly acquired.

Green’s approach to legacy also extends to encouraging others not just to accumulate wealth, but to invest in values, impact, and future generations.

Challenges & Controversies

While Green’s story is celebrated in many circles, his path has not been free of criticism or debate:

• The decision by Hobby Lobby to challenge federal mandates requiring coverage of certain contraceptives based on religious objections drew national attention. This culminated in the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.

• As mentioned, the return of ancient artifacts held by Hobby Lobby to Middle Eastern governments raised ethical and legal questions about provenance, cultural heritage, and institutional oversight.

These controversies highlight tensions in operating a faith-based business at scale in a pluralistic society and maintaining transparency in philanthropic and curatorial undertakings.

Personality, Leadership Style & Insights

David Green is often described as humble, devout, disciplined, and guided by conviction. He tends to avoid emphasizing his own personal credit, preferring to frame successes as God’s provision or stewardship.

His leadership style emphasizes simplicity, consistency, trust, and respect for employees and customers. In internal materials and writings, he advocates keeping bureaucracy minimal, encouraging frontline empowerment, and supporting operational efficiency.

Green has also urged that legacy is more than money—it’s about influence, values transmitted, and how one uses resources for purpose.

He holds that business success without generosity or purpose is incomplete.

Famous Quotes of David Green

Below are some sayings and statements attributed to Green or about his philosophy:

• “God has been faithful in the past and we trust Him for our future.”

• Green has said in interviews: “If you have anything or if I have anything, it’s because it’s been given to us by our Creator.”

• In More Than a Hobby, one of his guiding principles is: “Keep God and family first.”

• Regarding paperwork and operations, he advocated policies such as allowing managers to spend no more than thirty minutes per day on paperwork.

While Green is not as widely quotable in popular media as some public figures, these remarks reflect his integration of faith and business, and his focus on grounded principles rather than hype.

Lessons from David Green

1. Start small, think big. Green’s journey from a $600 garage startup to a national retail enterprise shows how incremental risk and consistent effort can compound.

2. Let values guide strategy. He illustrates how deeply held beliefs can serve as a compass for decisions, hiring, and long-term resilience.

3. Wealth is a means, not an end. Green uses his success to fund causes he cares about, argue for legacy beyond money, and challenge conventional business narratives.

4. Simplicity can scale. His emphasis on reducing bureaucracy and trusting employees shows that complex organizations don’t always need complex systems.

5. Be prepared for scrutiny. Operating in public with faith-based convictions invites both admiration and challenge; being transparent and principled matters.

Conclusion

David Green’s life is a compelling example of entrepreneurship wedded with conviction. From modest beginnings in a pastor’s family to leading one of America’s largest privately held retail chains, his career spotlights how faith, discipline, and strategic risk can shape influence beyond profits. His philanthropic investments and cultural endeavors (like the Museum of the Bible) show a vision of legacy centered around values and impact.