From Humble Beginnings to Real Estate Royalty
Listen up, folks. Barbara Corcoran didn't just wake up one day as a millionaire. No sir. She had to hustle, grind, and overcome obstacles to build her empire. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Barbara was one of ten siblings. Can you imagine the chaos? Growing up, she wasn’t handed anything. She earned it. After finishing high school, she attended St. Thomas Aquinas College, graduating in 1971. But here's the kicker—Barbara wasn’t just some bookworm. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn’t afraid to chase it.
Before she became a real estate mogul, Barbara dabbled in various jobs. She taught, worked odd gigs, and learned the ropes of life. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, which taught her the value of hard work. And let me tell you, that grit would come in handy later on.
Breaking into the Real Estate Game
By the time Barbara was 23, she landed a job as a receptionist at Giffuni Brothers’ real estate firm in New York City. But Barbara wasn’t content with being just another face in the crowd. She had dreams of owning her own business. So, in 1973, she teamed up with her then-boyfriend Ray Simone to cofound Corcoran-Simone. Talk about ambition! But life isn’t always a bed of roses, and after seven years, the partnership dissolved. Rather than throw in the towel, Barbara rebranded the firm as The Corcoran Group and ran it like a champ for over two decades. In 2001, she sold the company for a staggering $66 million. Now that’s what I call a success story!
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From Real Estate Mogul to Bestselling Author
While Barbara was crushing it in the real estate world, she also found time to pen her thoughts. In the mid-1970s, she launched "The Corcoran Report," a newsletter that became a must-read for anyone in the business. Over the years, she authored several books, including If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons On Your Pigtails in 2003, Nextville: Amazing Places to Live Your Life in 2008, and Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business in 2011. These books aren’t just fluff; they’re filled with wisdom and lessons from her incredible journey.
The Shark Tank Era
In 2009, Barbara stepped into the spotlight as a "Shark" investor on the hit show Shark Tank. Alongside fellow entrepreneurs like Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, and Kevin Harrington, she helped budding entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. Over the years, the show has won multiple Emmys, and Barbara has become a household name. Her sharp wit and business acumen make her a fan favorite.
