James Arthur 'Art' Pope (born April 4, 1956, in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is an American businessman, attorney, former North Carolina state legislator (serving four terms in the House of Representatives), and former state budget director (2013-2014 under Republican Governor Pat McCrory). He serves as owner, president, chairman, and CEO of Variety Wholesalers, Inc. (formerly known as Variety Stores, Inc.), a private family-held chain of discount stores operating approximately 370 general merchandise locations across 16 states in the Southeast, with headquarters in Henderson, North Carolina. The company employs over 10,000 people and includes brands such as Roses, Maxway, and Super 10, generating estimated annual revenues between $700 million and $1 billion. Pope balances this role with extensive philanthropy as president and chairman of the John William Pope Foundation, which he established in 1986 and has directed, distributing over $244 million in grants to conservative think tanks, educational institutions, public policy groups, and humanitarian causes, with a focus on free-market economics, school choice, tax reduction, and litigation for legal and policy reforms. Deeply involved in Republican politics, Pope is a prominent conservative political donor and influencer who has significantly reshaped North Carolina's political landscape. He has donated millions to conservative candidates, causes, and organizations, particularly in North Carolina, influencing elections through groups like the Civitas Institute and Americans for Prosperity—where he has served on the board and earned the nickname 'Koch Jr.' for his alignment with Charles and David Koch. He has held board positions at influential conservative entities, including vice chairman of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation since 2010, and acted as a key advisor in GOP strategies. His funding was instrumental in the Republican takeover of the North Carolina legislature in 2010 via super PACs, and has faced criticism from progressive groups for roles in controversial redistricting, restrictive voter ID laws, and influence over the University of North Carolina system, with accusations of unduly swaying elections during the 2010 and 2012 cycles.