Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, speaker, consultant and syndicated columnist. She is also an author, and television personality. The Corcoran Group was a New York City real estate brokerage that she started. NRT purchased it for $66million in 2001. Corcoran eventually left the business. Corcoran was among the first Shark Tank investors. She was a regular on every episode of ABC's Shark Tank. Corcoran has signed 53 deals as of February, 2020. Her largest deal was her $350,000 investment in Coverplay with a 40% stake. Corcoran was second child in a family of 10 children, and was raised in Edgewater.  Her mother, Florence, was a household worker. Her father, Edwin W. Corcoran Jr., bounced between jobs throughout Corcoran's early years. Her family often relied on free delivery of food from a nearby supermarket. Corcoran recalls her father, one who would drink too much, and behaved towards her mother disrespectfully and condescendingly, especially after he'd consumed a few drinks. Corcoran was a struggle throughout her education, later learning that she had dyslexia. Corcoran went to an Catholic elementary school in her area and started high school in St. Cecilia High School, Englewood. Corcoran was fluent in several classes during her first year. She was transferred to Leonia High School and graduated with a grade of D.