Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran, born March 10, 1949, is an American businesswoman and investor. She is also a speaker and consultant, a columnist syndicated to a speaker writer, author and television show host. The Corcoran Group, an NYC real estate brokerage was established by Corcoran. NRT bought it in 2001 for $66 million. Corcoran then exited the company. Corcoran is one of ABC’s first Shark Tank investors. Since her inception, she has been in every seasons of Shark Tank. As of February 2020 she had closed 53 deals. The largest of these was a purchase of $350,000 for Coverplay at 40%. Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey, the second child of 10 in a middle class Irish-Catholic family. Florence, her mother, was an excellent household worker. Edwin W. Corcoran Jr. Her father was constantly switching jobs throughout Corcoran’s life. The family depended on food delivery services for free from a local grocer. Corcoran recalls her father as one who often consumed too much alcohol and was rude to her mother and condescension, particularly when he was drinking. Corcoran struggled with her education and was later diagnosed with dyslexia. Corcoran started the high school system in St. Cecilia High School Englewood after she had left her Catholic elementary school. Corcoran was fluent in several classes during her first year. She transferred to Leonia High School and graduated with a grade of D.