How Gary built the fortune
Gary Rollins' fortune is tied to Rollins Inc., the Atlanta company his father, O. Wayne Rollins, built from a radio station business. In 1964 the family company bought Orkin Exterminating, a much larger pest control firm, in one of the early leveraged buyouts in American business, borrowing most of the purchase price. Pest control turned out to be a steady, recurring service business, and Orkin became the heart of the group.
Gary joined the company in the late 1960s and spent his career in its pest control operations, rising to run Orkin and later becoming chief executive of Rollins in 2001. Under his leadership the company expanded through dozens of acquisitions, buying regional pest control businesses and brands in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other markets, while franchising Orkin in additional countries. Recurring residential and commercial contracts produced consistent growth.
His wealth reflects shares inherited and accumulated in the publicly listed company, held together with other members of the Rollins family.
The pest control industry proved attractive because it is fragmented, with many small local operators, and because customers tend to keep services on recurring contracts. Rollins used this structure to build scale through acquisitions while keeping well known local brands. The company also invested in training, technology and route planning to improve efficiency across its branches.
Rollins Inc. has been publicly listed for decades, and its shares have been known for steady long-term performance, a factor that has contributed significantly to the family's wealth.
His leadership period also saw Rollins adopt more technology in its service operations, such as routing software and digital customer tools.
Companies and holdings
Rollins Inc. is listed in New York and operates brands that include Orkin, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Western Pest Services, Clark Pest Control, Northwest Exterminating and Fox Pest Control. It provides pest and termite control, wildlife management and related services to homes and businesses.
The family also controls two other listed companies spun off from the group:
- RPC Inc., an oilfield services company separated in 1984
- Marine Products Corporation, a boat maker spun off from RPC in 2001
Gary Rollins has handed the chief executive role to a successor and serves as chairman of Rollins Inc.
Rollins operates through a large network of branches, each serving local residential and commercial customers, and it has grown its commercial business by serving restaurants, food processors, hospitals and other clients that need regular inspections and documented pest management to meet health regulations.
Early life and career
Rollins was born in 1944 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up as part of a family deep in business. His father and uncle, John Rollins, started the radio business in Virginia that later became Rollins Inc., and the family moved to Atlanta as the company grew. He studied business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
After graduating he joined Orkin and worked through its operations, from branch level to senior management, which gave him detailed knowledge of the service business. He became president of Orkin and later chief operating officer of Rollins before taking the top job.
Working his way through Orkin's operations gave him detailed knowledge of branch management and customer service, areas that he continued to emphasise as chief executive. He has often credited his father's example of thrift and hard work as a major influence.
Philanthropy and public life
The Rollins family gives largely through the O. Wayne and Grace Rollins Foundation and related family foundations, which are among the largest supporters of Emory University in Atlanta. The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory bears the family name, and the family has funded research buildings, scholarships and medical programmes there and at other institutions in the Southeast.
Gary Rollins has also supported Christian ministries as well as children's health causes in Atlanta. He tends to avoid publicity and seldom speaks about his personal finances.
Gary Rollins has also served on boards of community and business organisations in Atlanta, contributing to the city's civic life alongside his business activities.