Dollar General: A Billion-Dollar Empire Built on Deception

Overview

Dollar General built its empire on the promise of affordability.
But beneath the bright-yellow signs lies a two-decade record of fraud, unsafe conditions, and deceptive pricing that has cost American consumers millions — especially those least able to afford it.

This summary distills the findings of our full investigative report, verified through SEC filings, OSHA records, state enforcement actions, and federal court documents.

Corporate Fraud and Financial Manipulation

• SEC Accounting Scandal (1998–2001)
  Dollar General executives falsified financial reports — underreporting $10 million in freight costs, fabricating $11 million in cash-register sales, and misusing “rainy-day” reserves to mislead investors.
  • Result: $143 million earnings restatement — the largest in company history.
  • 2005 SEC Settlement: $10 million fine; top executives permanently banned from public-company roles.
    Sources: SEC 10-K; SEC Litigation Release No. 19174.

“This is not misfortune. This is method.” — Consumer Diligence Analyst Note

Worker Safety and OSHA Violations

• Persistent Safety Hazards (2010–2025)
  Over 243 OSHA inspections resulted in $15+ million in penalties for blocked exits, electrical hazards, and unstable merchandise stacks.
  • In 2022, Dollar General became the first retailer labeled a ‘Severe Violator’ under OSHA’s expanded enforcement program.
    Sources: OSHA National News Release; Violation Tracker.
• 2024 Labor Department Settlement
  The U.S. Department of Labor reached a $12 million settlement with Dollar General for repeated nationwide safety violations.
  • Mandates: safety committees, third-party audits, lower inventory stacks, and ongoing compliance checks.
  • Noncompliance fines: up to $500,000 per violation.
    Sources: DOL News Release; CNBC; Fast Company.

Deceptive Pricing and Consumer Overcharging

• Rampant Shelf-to-Register Price Errors
  State audits found error rates as high as 88%, far above the legal 2% threshold.
  • Common items: soup, milk, diapers, cleaning supplies, and soda deals.
  • Consumers were routinely overcharged by 25–80% on essentials.
    Sources: State AG filings; Business Insider; Coupons in the News.

State Enforcement Actions

Sources: Vermont Biz; Ohio AG; Missouri AG; NJOAG; DATCP; KRDO.

Class-Action Lawsuits

• Ohio (2024): Overcharges at 943 stores.
• Florida (2025): Nationwide “bait-and-switch” pricing suit.
  Sources: Top Class Actions.

Labor and Wage Exploitation

• Average hourly pay: ~$12/hour (Glassdoor).
• Employees report unsafe conditions, intimidation, and retaliation for raising safety concerns.
  Sources: The Progressive; Glassdoor.

Violence and Security Neglect

• 49 deaths and 172 injuries (2014–2023) at Dollar General stores.
• Former employees cite poor security, minimal cameras, and no overnight guards — despite high cash flow and repeated robberies.
  Sources: Fast Company; Gun Violence Archive.

Economic and Social Impact

• Roughly 75% of Americans live within five miles of a Dollar General store.
• Low-income families spend up to 33% of after-tax income on food; overcharges further deepen economic strain.
  Sources: USDA ERS; SEC filings; WallStreetZen.
• Cumulative Record:
  • More than $90.8 million in penalties since 2000.
  • $41.7 billion in annual revenue (as of October 2025).
    Sources: Violation Tracker; SEC 10-K.

Analyst Note

Dollar General’s model thrives on precision in deception — quiet thefts from those with the least to spare.
When a company of this scale normalizes fraud and unsafe conditions, it poisons public trust in the most fundamental act of commerce: buying what’s promised, at the price shown.

Sources

1. SEC Form 10-K
2. SEC Litigation Release No. 19174 (2005)
3. OSHA News Release (2023)
4. VermontBiz
5. Ohio AG Release (2024)
6. Missouri AG Press Release (2023)
7. Missouri AG Petition (PDF)
8. New Jersey AG Release
9. Violation Tracker Summary
10. KRDO — Colorado Fine (2025)
11. DOL Settlement (2024)
12. CNBC — Labor Settlement
13. WallStreetZen — Revenue
14. Fast Company — Safety Violations
15. Top Class Actions — Florida Suit
16. USDA ERS Data
17. Glassdoor Pay Data
18. DATCP Wisconsin Settlement (2023)
19. Coupons in the News
20. Business Insider — Overcharges
21. The Progressive — Worker Voices