Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is a successful American businesswoman, investor, and TV personality. She founded The Corcoran Group, a major real estate brokerage in New York City, which she sold for $66 million in 2001 before stepping away from the company.
As one of the original “Sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, Corcoran has invested in 130 deals, with her largest investment being $350,000 for 40% of Coverplay. She also writes columns for More, The Daily Review, Redbook, and the New York Daily News, and has authored several books.
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Barbara Corcoran Net Worth
Barbara Corcoran holds a net worth of $100 million. In 2001, she and her husband Bill bought a 2,700-square-foot apartment on Park Avenue for $3.5 million.
In 2015, they acquired an 11-room penthouse on Fifth Avenue for $10 million, featuring a solarium, conservatory, and a landscaped terrace.
Early life
Barbara Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey, as the second of ten children in a working-class Irish-Catholic family. Her father, Edwin, often struggled to maintain steady employment, and her family sometimes relied on donated food from a local grocer.
Corcoran, who later discovered she had dyslexia, faced bullying in school, being labeled the “dumb kid.” Despite academic struggles, she graduated from Leonia High School and later St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1971 with a degree in education, finding more success in college than in earlier schooling.
Career
At 23, Barbara Corcoran co-founded Corcoran-Simone with a $1,000 loan from her boyfriend, Ray Simone. When they split in 1980, he claimed she’d fail without him, sparking her determination.
She rebranded to The Corcoran Group, eventually selling it for $66 million in 2001. Corcoran also launched the real estate newsletter The Corcoran Report and wrote Shark Tales and other books. Since joining Shark Tank in 2009, she’s helped the show earn four Emmy wins. She competed in Dancing with the Stars in 2017 and has guest-starred on shows like Grace and Frankie.
Personal life
Barbara Corcoran lives in Manhattan with her husband, Bill Higgins, a retired Navy captain and former FBI agent who served in the Gulf War. They married in 1988 and had a son via IVF in 1994, with an egg donated by Corcoran’s sister.
They later adopted a daughter. In 2001, she bought a Park Avenue apartment for $3.5 million and, in 2015, a Fifth Avenue penthouse for $10 million. She also owns a double-wide trailer in California. For her 70th birthday in 2019, she held a mock funeral.
What is Barbara Corcoran famous for?
Barbara Corcoran is widely recognized as a motivational speaker and prominent contributor on small business and real estate across major networks. As an investor and Shark on ABC’s four-time Emmy-winning show Shark Tank for over eleven seasons, she has invested in more than 100 businesses to date.
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Barbara Corcoran’s net worth is more than a figure; it is a narrative of perseverance, innovation, and strategic thinking. Her success story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere, proving that with tenacity and smarts, even the loftiest business dreams are attainable.
FAQs about Barbara Corcoran’s Net Worth
- How did Barbara Corcoran build her net worth? Corcoran built her wealth through her real estate company, The Corcoran Group, her investments on Shark Tank, and her career as a speaker and author.
- Is Barbara Corcoran the richest Shark on Shark Tank? While Barbara Corcoran is wealthy, she is not the richest Shark. That title often goes to Mark Cuban.
- What was Barbara Corcoran’s best investment? Corcoran’s best investment was a $50,000 deal that grew to $468 million, with the exact company undisclosed.
- How does Barbara Corcoran select companies to invest in? Corcoran often cites the entrepreneur’s passion, understanding of their business, and ability to execute as key factors in her decision to invest.
- Has Barbara Corcoran retired from investing? As of early 2023, Barbara Corcoran was still active on Shark Tank and in the investment world, continuing to expand her portfolio.
