Born as Joseph A. Hardy III on the 7th January 1923 in Pittsburgh, California USA, he is an entrepreneur, best known to the world as the founder of the 84 Lumber Company, which is now the most successful building materials supplier in the USA.
Have you ever wondered how rich Joe Hardy is, as of late 2016? According to authoritative sources, Joe`s net worth is estimated to be around $1.2 billion, earned through his successful career as a businessman.
Joe Hardy Net Worth $1.2 Billion
Joe is one of three sons born to Katherine and Norman Hardy; he grew up in a middle class family who ran a jewelry business. After finishing high school, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with a degree in industrial engineering. While in college, he also worked in his family store in order to support his studies, and also to have spare money for himself.
After graduation he co-joined his brothers and opened Green Hills Lumber Company, and for the next nine years, he and his brothers developed their business, but in 1955 Joe left the firm and a year later started his own, the 84 Lumber Company, with headquarters in the rural town Eighty Four. Little by little, his company expanded, and by the 1970s, it had more than 220 stores, which increased Joe`s net worth by a large margin. It continued to expand further, and now has stores in more than 30 states, with over 250 stores, and employs over 5,000 people. However, in 1992, Joe stepped down from the chair, and gave the reins to his daughter Maggy Hardy Magerko. His net worth was certainly well established.
Apart from 84 Lumber, Joe has another successful company, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which features the AAA Four Diamond world-class resort, and also hotels, Woodlands Spa, restaurants and shooting academy. Furthermore, the resort comprises golf course Mystic Rock, which was designed by Pete Dye. These projects contribute to Joe’s net worth too.
Joe has also dabbled in politics, becoming the Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fayete County in 2004, but in 2007 he backed out of the re-elections, ending his political career.
Thanks to his achievements, Joe has received several honors and accolades, and is also named as one of the wealthiest people in the world (Forbes 400), and he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Washington & Jefferson College, while the University of Pittsburgh appointed him as a member of the board of trustees.
Regarding his personal life, Joe has married four times; his first wife was Dorothy(1947-97), with whom he had five children. After they split, he married Debra – dates unknown but they have two children; then he married 22 year old Kristin Georgi in 2007, but that didn`t last long, as they divorced four months after the wedding. In 2014, he married Jodi Santella Williams; the couple recently adopted a son.
Having amassed such wealth, Joe has also dedicated himself to philanthropy, supporting numerous causes, including children with disabilities, and collaborated with such organizations as The Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Justin Jennings Foundation, Musicians Village and United Way, among others. Most recently he stated that he wanted to die broke; so he is focused on improving the lives of people in need.
