 In November 2001, Bernard Marcus announced his idea to build and aquarium as a present to Atlanta, Georgia that would encourage both education and economic growth. Marcus and his wife, Billi traveled 13 countries and visited 56 aquariums to research and design a structure, and finally donated $250 million toward Georgia Aquarium's construction. An additional $40 milion dollars in financial contributions was donated by major corporations including the Coca-Coa Company, Turner Broadcasting, Home Depot, UPS, AirTran Airways, BellSouth, Georgia Pacific, Timer Warner, SunTrust and Southern Company. The corporate donations allowed the aquarium to open debt free.The Georgia Aquarium contains between 100,000 and 120,000 fish and other sea creatures, representing more than five hundred species. The fish were transported from Taiwan to the aquarium by UPS in 42 tanks aboard an MD-11. UPS donated the cost of the shipping, estimated at over $200,000 US currency.
Jeff Swanagan, the then CEO of the Florida Aquarium, was hired as the Georgia Aquarium's first employee in 2002. Swanagan had been credited with turning around the financially troubled Florida Aquarium during his tenure as CEO. Swanagan became president and executive director, and is largely credited with the creation of the aquarium. He oversaw every aspect in the creation of the aquarium, from the design of the structure to the procurement of animals for the exhibits.
He remained president and chief executive of the Georgia Aquarium until 2008, when he departed to join the Columbus Zoo. Anthony Godfrey is now president.
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