Both Greg Garland and Marvin Ellison built long careers at the top of major American corporations, but their professional paths developed in different industries. Garland spent more than four decades in energy, chemicals and oil, eventually leading Phillips 66, while Ellison built his reputation through retail and home improvement, rising through Target, The Home Depot and J.C. Penney before becoming Lowe’s chairman and CEO. Their education, leadership experience, family backgrounds and estimated wealth offer an interesting side-by-side look at two prominent American business executives.
Greg Garland and Marvin Ellison Quick Bio
| Profile Detail | Greg Garland | Marvin Ellison |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Greg C. Garland | Marvin R. Ellison |
| Date of Birth | 1960–1961, exact date not publicly confirmed | 1966, exact date not publicly confirmed |
| Age | 68 years | Around 60–61 years |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $100M–$150M — unverified | Estimated around $58M–$100M — unverified |
| Birthplace | United States — exact birthplace not clearly documented | Haywood County, Tennessee, USA |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Profession | Business Executive, Chemical Engineer, Corporate Director | Business Executive, Corporate Director, Retail Leader |
| Industry | Energy, Oil, Natural Gas and Chemicals | Retail, Home Improvement and Consumer Services |
| Famous For | Former Chairman and CEO of Phillips 66 | Chairman, President and CEO of Lowe’s |
| Current Position | Independent Director at ExxonMobil; Director at Amgen | Chairman, President and CEO of Lowe’s |
| Previous Major Position | Executive Chairman of Phillips 66, 2022–2024 | Chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney, 2015–2018 |
| Career Started | 1980 at Phillips Petroleum Company | 1987 at Target Corporation |
| Career Experience | 40+ years in energy and chemicals | 35+ years in retail leadership |
| Education | Texas A&M University | University of Memphis; Emory University |
| Bachelor’s Degree | B.S. in Chemical Engineering | BBA in Marketing/Business Administration |
| MBA | Not publicly documented | MBA, Emory University |
| Parents | Not clearly documented publicly | Ivory T. Ellison and mother; detailed public information is limited |
| Siblings | Not clearly documented | 6 siblings; he is one of seven children |
| Marital Status | Married | Married |
| Spouse | Private/not widely documented | Sharyn Ellison |
| Children | 4 | 2 |
| Family Background | Private; professional biographies focus mainly on his career | Raised in a large working-class family in Tennessee |
| Height | Estimated 6 ft–6 ft 2 in — unverified | Estimated around 6 ft 2 in — unverified |
| Weight | Estimated around 85–90 kg — unverified | Estimated around 90 kg — unverified |
| Hair Color | Gray/White — estimated from recent appearances | Black/Gray — estimated from recent appearances |
| Eye Color | Brown — unverified | Brown — unverified |
| Nickname | No widely documented nickname | No widely documented nickname |
| Hobbies | Not extensively documented; education, business and community service are prominent interests | Gospel music, reading, business, education, family and community service |
| Major Company Roles | Phillips Petroleum, Chevron Phillips Chemical, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66 | Target, The Home Depot, J.C. Penney, Lowe’s |
| Phillips 66 Role | Chairman and CEO, 2012–2022; Executive Chairman, 2022–2024 | Not applicable |
| Lowe’s Role | Not applicable | President and CEO since 2018; Chairman since 2021 |
| J.C. Penney Role | Not applicable | President, CEO and Chairman, 2014–2018 |
| Target Role | Not applicable | Operational and leadership roles, 1987–2002 |
| Home Depot Role | Not applicable | Senior leadership roles, 2002–2014 |
| ExxonMobil | Independent Director since 2025 | Not a director |
| Amgen | Director since 2013 | Not a director |
| FedEx | Not a director | Board Member |
| Leadership Specialty | Energy operations, chemicals, global markets and corporate governance | Retail operations, logistics, customer experience and business strategy |
| Social Media | No clearly verified personal Instagram account | Professional public presence; no clearly verified personal Instagram account |
| Awards & Recognition | Recognized for corporate, energy and community leadership | NRF Visionary Award; McGowan Fund Ethical Leader of the Year; Corporate Executive of the Year |
| Philanthropy | Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, MD Anderson and other community organizations | Higher education, faith-based and philanthropic organizations |
| Notable Achievement | Led Phillips 66 as Chairman and CEO for a decade and later joined ExxonMobil’s board | Rose from hourly retail work to lead two major Fortune 500 companies |
| Career Focus | Energy and industrial leadership | Retail and consumer business leadership |
| Public Profile | Primarily known within energy and corporate circles | Widely recognized within the U.S. retail industry |
| Current Status | Active corporate director and business leader | Active CEO and corporate chairman |
Greg Garland and Marvin Ellison Images

