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From Waitress to Real Estate Mogul: How Barbara Corcoran Turned a $1,000 Loan Into a $6 Billion Business


Barbara Corcoran’s journey from a 23-year-old waitress to a real estate mogul is one of resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit. After failing at 22 previous jobs, Barbara decided to borrow $1,000 from her then-boyfriend and took the bold leap to start her own real estate company in New York City. With no prior experience and plenty of doubt around her, she co-founded a small real estate office, setting the stage for what would become an extraordinary rise to success.

However, Barbara’s path was far from easy. After her boyfriend left her for their secretary, Barbara was forced to rebuild from scratch, relying on the support of friends while sleeping on their couches. But she didn’t give up. She split the business, taking half the sales team, and established The Corcoran Group just a few floors above her original office. Her unrelenting focus and vision allowed her to turn that $1,000 investment into a $6 billion real estate empire.


After 25 years of hard work, Barbara sold The Corcoran Group for $66 million in 2001. She then shifted her focus to investing, where she has backed over 150 companies, including 80 through her role on Shark Tank. Today, Barbara has a personal net worth exceeding $100 million, solidifying her as one of the most inspiring self-made entrepreneurs of our time.


Barbara Corcoran’s story proves that no matter how many failures or setbacks you face, grit, vision, and the courage to start over can lead to extraordinary success.

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