Dollar Tree, one of North America’s largest value retailers, was led by Gary Philbin as President and CEO from September 2017 to July 2020. During his tenure, Philbin oversaw the integration of the $8.5 billion Family Dollar acquisition and guided Dollar Tree through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. A retail veteran with more than 40 years of grocery and discount retail experience, Philbin joined Dollar Tree in 2001 and worked his way up from SVP of Stores to the top job before retiring in 2020.
Gary Philbin – Quick Facts
Gary Philbin Net Worth – Dollar Tree CEO Salary
Gary Philbin’s net worth is estimated at approximately $12 million as of 2025, based primarily on his Dollar Tree stock holdings. According to SEC filings, Philbin held approximately 113,787 shares of Dollar Tree stock. He has made no insider transactions in the stock over the past five years, with his most recent sale of 9,614 shares occurring in April 2019.
Gary Philbin Compensation Breakdown
Career & Education – Gary Philbin Biography
Gary Philbin built a distinguished 40+ year career in the grocery and discount retail industries. Before joining Dollar Tree, he spent more than 30 years in the grocery business, gaining deep operational expertise at some of the largest names in American retail.
Gary Philbin Career Timeline
Philbin began his career in the grocery industry, holding executive positions at Kroger, A&P’s Waldbaum’s division, Supervalu/Cub Foods, and Grand Union, where he served as President. In 2001, he transitioned to the discount retail sector when he joined Dollar Tree as Senior Vice President of Stores.
Over 19 years at Dollar Tree, Philbin rose steadily through the ranks — promoted to COO in 2007, President in 2013, and finally President & CEO in September 2017, succeeding Bob Sasser who became Executive Chairman. As CEO, he oversaw the massive integration of the Family Dollar acquisition (completed in 2015 for $8.5 billion) and managed the company’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic before retiring in July 2020.
Education
Dollar Tree Competitors
Dollar Tree operates in the highly competitive discount retail segment. Key competitors of Dollar Tree include:
- Dollar General – Largest U.S. dollar store chain by store count
- Five Below – Value retailer targeting teens and pre-teens
- Walmart – Discount retail giant with extensive grocery and general merchandise
- Target – Mass market retailer with value-oriented offerings
- Big Lots – Closeout and discount retailer
- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet – Closeout merchandise specialist
- 99 Cents Only – West Coast value retailer (closed operations in 2024)
About Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree, Inc. is one of North America’s largest value retailers, headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia. Founded in 1986, the company operates thousands of stores under the Dollar Tree banner, offering merchandise at value price points. In 2025, Dollar Tree completed the divestiture of Family Dollar to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for approximately $1 billion, ending a decade-long experiment following the original $8.5 billion acquisition in 2015.
Dollar Tree CEO Succession After Gary Philbin
After Gary Philbin retired in July 2020, Dollar Tree went through several leadership changes:
- Michael Witynski – Succeeded Philbin as CEO in July 2020
- Rick Dreiling – Became Executive Chairman in 2022 and later took on CEO responsibilities
- Michael C. Creedon Jr. – Named Interim CEO in November 2024, then appointed permanent CEO in December 2024. Creedon joined Dollar Tree as COO in 2022 after nearly a decade at Advance Auto Parts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of Dollar Tree?
The current CEO of Dollar Tree is Michael C. Creedon Jr., who was appointed permanent CEO in December 2024. He joined Dollar Tree as Chief Operating Officer in 2022 and was named interim CEO in November 2024 before being made permanent.
Why did Gary Philbin leave Dollar Tree?
Gary Philbin retired from Dollar Tree in July 2020 after a 40+ year retail career, including 19 years at Dollar Tree. He had served as CEO since September 2017 and stepped down as part of a planned leadership succession.
What was Gary Philbin’s salary at Dollar Tree?
In his final year as CEO (FY2020), Gary Philbin earned total compensation of approximately $9.5 million, including a $915,385 base salary, $8.5 million in equity awards, and $59,176 in other compensation. His peak compensation was approximately $10.6 million in FY2019.
What is Gary Philbin’s net worth?
Gary Philbin’s estimated net worth is approximately $12 million, based primarily on his Dollar Tree stock holdings of roughly 113,787 shares.
How many Dollar Tree stores are there?
Dollar Tree operates over 16,000 stores across North America. In 2025, the company divested the Family Dollar banner for approximately $1 billion to focus on its core Dollar Tree brand.
Is Family Dollar still part of Dollar Tree?
No. Dollar Tree completed the sale of Family Dollar to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management in mid-2025 for approximately $1 billion. Dollar Tree originally acquired Family Dollar in 2015 for $8.5 billion.
Article last updated: February 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.