Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, speaker, consultant and syndicated columnist. She is also an television host, and author. The Corcoran Group is a New York-based real estate brokerage. In 2001, it was sold to NRT at $66 million. Corcoran quit the firm within a short time. One of the show's first "Shark" investors, Corcoran has appeared in every season of ABC's Shark Tank until now. Corcoran had signed 53 contracts in February 2020. Her largest deal was her investment of $350,000 in Coverplay with a 40% stake. Corcoran was the second of 10 children from a Catholic family with a low-income was born in Edgewater in New Jersey. Florence, Corcoran's mother, was a homemaker. Edwin W. Corcoran Jr. became her father throughout Corcoran's early years. Her family was sometimes dependent on the food provided by the local grocer who would deliver free food. Corcoran remembers her father as an intoxicated man who would sometimes treat her mother with condescension and disrespect, especially after he had been drinking. Corcoran was a troubled student throughout school. Later, she discovered she was dyslexic. Corcoran began high school at St. Cecilia High School Englewood after attending a Catholic elementary school. After failing several classes during her first year of high school, Corcoran transferred to Leonia High School and was a D-student when she graduated.