From Waitress to $100 Million Empire

She was 23, broke, and waiting tables in New Jersey. But Barbara Corcoran had something no job title could measure: grit. With just $1,000 borrowed from an ex-boyfriend, she launched a tiny real estate company in New York City.

Most people laughed. One even told her, “You’ll never succeed without me.”

She proved them all wrong.

The Rise of the Corcoran Group

What started as a small venture grew into The Corcoran Group, one of NYC’s top real estate firms. Barbara had no MBA or fancy connections just hustle, charm, and a gift for branding homes like luxury products.

By 2001, she sold her company for $66 million, having built a real estate empire now worth over $100 million.

Now a Shark on TV and in Life

Today, Barbara is a star investor on Shark Tank, a bestselling author, and a role model for women in business. But she never forgets where she came from.

Because her journey proves one thing: You don’t need millions to start you just need courage and a plan.