It might have taken five decades for Barbara Corcoran to earn the respect she deserves, but she kept laughing—all the way to the bank.
One of the most recognizable stars of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the hit reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to angel investors, the pixie-haired mogul with the distinctive chuckle has earned acclaim for her status as one of the “original sharks,” appearing on all seasons since the show started in 2009.
Her success rate at spotting promising ideas is second to none; in fact, her business acumen has made her a respected voice in the startup sphere—as well as a member of the 9-figure club.
But before Corcoran became a successful—and wealthy—TV personality, she ran her own lucrative real estate brokerage, one that she started with just $1,000 in capital from her then-boyfriend in 1973.
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Barbara Corcoran’s improbable rise to success
Corcoran was born on March 10, 1949, in Edgewater, New Jersey. One of 10 children, Corcoran’s mother was a homemaker while her father bounced from one job to another; he also had a drinking problem, and so the family often had to rely on goodwill from neighbors for basic essentials, like groceries.
Corcoran struggled in school and later acknowledged that she had undiagnosed dyslexia—in fact, she revealed to CNBC that she had once been labeled the “dumb kid” in school.
(Ultimately, Corcoran got the last laugh.)
After transferring high schools, the budding business maven graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1971. She then worked a string of odd jobs, including as a secretary at a real estate firm; convinced of the merits of becoming her own boss, she borrowed $1,000 from her then-boyfriend, Ramone Simone and, together, they started The Corcoran-Simone, a tiny real estate venture in New York.
But in 1980, Simone informed Corcoran that he was going to marry their secretary and that she would never amount to anything without him. Unfazed, Corcoran ended their relationship and launched her own firm, The Corcoran Group.
Over time, Corcoran built her business into one of Manhattan’s most famous real estate brokerages, and sold it in 2001 for $66 million—once again proving her ability to turn curve balls into home runs.
Actually, you could say that Corcoran’s “second act” has been even more influential. Since selling her business, Corcoran has become a media personality, author, speaker, and investor and, along with her multi-million-dollar investment deals, her fortune has widened considerably.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Barbara Corcoran now has an estimated net worth of $100 million in 2025.
Image source: Shutterstock
What are Barbara Corcoran’s most successful “Shark Tank” investments?
The sale of her real estate business provided Corcoran with a cushy foundation, but her “Shark Tank” appearances, bestselling books, and investments have further added to her bottom line.
A few of her winningest bets include “The Comfy,” a warm, wearable blanket that “no one wanted,” she admitted during a 2023 appearance on The Daniel Mac Show podcast (as retold by Yahoo Finance). Corcoran bought a one-third stake in the company for $50,000 in 2017; in just three years, she revealed she made $468 million.
Cousins Maine Lobster was another huge success for Corcoran. She acquired a 15% stake for $55,000 in 2012; in 2023 alone, the company generated $86 million in sales.
Corcoran’s life is a prime illustration of how financial success is rarely about playing it safe. Instead, one needs to understand their inherent worth, practice strategic boldness, be disciplined in their thinking and, always, always stay flexible.
Barbara Corcoran’s 4 best financial insights
Here are a few of Barbara Corcoran’s biggest personal finance tips:
Don’t wait on perfection
True story: Corcoran has always believed in herself. But she made the majority of her moolah through informed risk-taking.
This may sound counterintuitive, but Corcoran has bragged about the fact that she’s “never saved a dime” in her life. It doesn’t mean she’s out spending all her cash; quite the opposite. Corcoran invests everything into ideas she believes in—and she created a billion-dollar business as a result.
Corcoran launched her real estate career with borrowed capital and minimal credentials, trusting her own instincts and work ethic. She often repeats that the “perfect time” to do something rarely happens: Investors can’t sit around waiting for ideal conditions before firing the trigger. Thoughtful risk-taking is often necessary to scoring big. Investors should do their due diligence, prioritize growth over safety, and then simply take action—and, often, these risks will be rewarded.
“Breaking even” is an acceptable starting point
Corcoran has spoken about her “Golden Rule” in real estate: Make a 20% down payment, so that you have less principle to pay and won’t be dealing as much with varying interest rate levels. Then, rent out the property to cover your mortgage, so that you can invest your own income into other opportunities that generate profits faster.
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Her insights are a savvy way to hold onto investment properties long-term (until they appreciate in value), while making sure you have steady cash flow at the same time.
Don’t confuse refinancing with reducing debt
One of Corcoran’s most sage pieces of financial wisdom is that “refinancing doesn’t reduce your debt — it just restructures it.”
In other words, replacing one loan with another may change interest rates or term, but unless you aggressively pay down principal, your total liabilities remain unchanged.
Corcoran revealed this insight during an appearance on The Today Show in 2017, and it could apply to anyone considering mortgage refinancing, student loan consolidation, or any type of debt restructuring. Refinancing should be utilized only when it meaningfully improves your cash flow.
Leverage market downturns as opportunities
Corcoran agrees with another famous investor—Warren Buffett—when he famously advised investors to “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
In uncertain markets, people often hold back, but that’s when the best deals can be found. Corcoran has also recommended looking at distressed or undervalued markets to purchase property in order to capture upside when sentiment turns.
That being said, such a mindset requires plenty of patience as these properties are long-term investment opportunities, not an overnight hit.
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