Barbara Corcoran: The Real Estate Queen Who Built An Empire

Barbara Corcoran's Net Worth: A Journey from Borrowed Dollars to Millions

Listen up, folks. Barbara Corcoran isn't just another face in the business world—she's a powerhouse. With a net worth of $100 million, this New York native has built an empire that spans real estate, media, and entrepreneurship. You might recognize her as one of the "Sharks" on ABC's hit show Shark Tank, but her journey began long before the cameras started rolling. Back in 1973, she took a leap of faith and founded The Corcoran Group, which she eventually sold for a whopping $66 million in 2001. That's right—she turned a $1,000 loan into millions. And that's not all. Barbara has also dabbled in podcasting, hosting shows like "888-Barbara" and "Business Unusual with Barbara," and even penned a few bestsellers. Over the years, she’s struck over 130 deals on Shark Tank, including a $350,000 investment in Coverplay. Talk about making it big!

Early Life: From a Big Family to Big Dreams

Barbara Corcoran wasn’t born with a silver spoon. She was born Barbara Ann Corcoran on March 10, 1949, in Edgewater, New Jersey, into a bustling Irish-Catholic household with nine siblings. Growing up, she faced challenges early on, including dyslexia, which made traditional schooling tough. She attended St. Cecilia High School but eventually transferred to Leonia High School after struggling academically. Despite these hurdles, Barbara persevered and earned a degree in education from St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1971. But teaching wasn’t her calling. Before diving into real estate, she held an impressive 22 jobs—everything from waitressing to selling encyclopedias door-to-door. Talk about resilience!

Her Career: Building an Empire Brick by Brick

At just 23 years old, Barbara landed her first job in real estate as a receptionist for the Giffuni Brothers’ firm. But she wasn’t content just taking messages; she wanted to build something of her own. So, she borrowed $1,000 from her boyfriend, Ray Simone, and together they launched Corcoran-Simone in 1973. Fast forward seven years, and their partnership dissolved when Ray left Barbara for her secretary. Ouch! But instead of crumbling, Barbara used the breakup as fuel to prove him wrong—and boy, did she ever. She rebranded the company as The Corcoran Group, and by 2001, she sold it for a staggering $66 million. Not bad for someone who started with just a thousand bucks, right?

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Writing and Media: Spreading Her Wisdom

But Barbara didn’t stop there. In the mid-1970s, she started publishing "The Corcoran Report," a real estate newsletter that quickly became a go-to resource for industry insights. Over the years, she authored several books, including "If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons On Your Pigtails" (2003), "Nextville: Amazing Places to Live Your Life" (2008), and "Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business" (2011). And let’s not forget her long-running role on Shark Tank, where she’s helped countless entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. Oh, and she even tried her hand at dancing, competing on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. While she didn’t win, she definitely showed everyone she’s got moves!

Personal Life: Family and Hobbies

Off-screen, Barbara is all about family. In 1988, she married retired Navy captain and former FBI agent Bill Higgins. The couple has two children: son Tom, born in 1994 through in vitro fertilization using an egg from her sister Florence, and daughter Kate, whom they adopted in 2005. When she’s not busy building empires, Barbara enjoys skiing and soaking up the sun at the beach. Who wouldn’t want to unwind like that?

Real Estate: Living the High Life

Speaking of real estate, Barbara knows how to live the good life. In 2001, she and Bill splurged $3.5 million on a luxurious 2,700-square-foot Park Avenue apartment. But they weren’t done yet. In 2015, they upgraded to a Fifth Avenue penthouse, paying $10 million for an 11-room home complete with a solarium, conservatory, and a stunning landscaped terrace. If that’s not the American Dream, I don’t know what is!