Rags to riches stories are rare, but Barbara Corcoran is someone who experienced it personally. Now, she is an entrepreneur, podcaster, speaker, and an investor on Shark Tank. Barbara is the founder of The Corcoran Group. As of 2022, Barbara Corcoran has a net worth of $100 million.
Early Life
Barbara Ann Corcoran was born on March 10, 1949. She grew up in Edgewater, New Jersey, as the second of ten children. Her father, Edwin, worked many jobs, while her mother, Florence, was a homemaker.
Poverty was a big factor in her childhood. Barbara’s family had to rely on food deliveries from a helpful local grocer at times. And it did not help that her father was an alcoholic. Barbara was diagnosed with dyslexia and had a tough time in school.
She initially went to St. Cecilia High School but transferred to Leonia High School after performing poorly. She did better in college, graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1971 with an education degree.
Early Career
After college, she used her degree by working as a teacher, but she left the job after a year. Then, she bounced from job to job. By the age of 23, she had worked in 20 different jobs.
Her ex-boyfriend, Ray Simone, persuaded her to work for a real estate firm. Corcoran was then accepted as a receptionist for the Giffuni Brothers’ brokerage in New York.
With a $1,000 loan, Ray and Barbara formed the real estate firm The Corcoran-Simonè. After they broke up, the aspiring businesswoman established The Corcoran Group, which she sold to NRT LLC for $66 million in 2001.
Media Ventures
She started publishing The Corcoran Report, a monthly report of real estate market trends in New York, in the mid-1970s. Barbara proceeded to write several finance books, starting in 2003.
With her expertise and wealth, Barbara Corcoran was invited to be one of the original Shark investors on ABC’s Shark Tank. In all 12 seasons of the show, she became known as a conservative investor.
Corcoran is a columnist for New York Daily News, The Daily Review, More, and Redbook. She also hosted several podcasts, including The Millionaire Broker with Barbara Corcoran, Business Unusual with Barbara, and 888-Barbara.
Net Worth and Earnings
Of all her media endeavors, Shark Tank is no doubt the most profitable. On the show, Corcoran has made over 50 deals. Her biggest investment is $350,000 for 40% of Coverplay. Also, it is reported that she makes $50,000 per episode.
There are her earnings as a writer. Her book, Shark Tales, is recognized as a bestseller. “Business Unusual with Barbara” is also a leading podcast in the investing niche. As a result of her efforts, Corcoran has obtained a fortune of $100 million.
Personal Life
Barbara is married to a former FBI agent and Navy captain named Bill Higgins. They tied the knot in 1988. Now, they have two children together, Tom and Kate. Tom was conceived via IVF, and Kate was adopted.
