Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran was a speaker, investor, and businesswoman from the United States. The Corcoran Group, an NYC-based real estate brokerage was established by Corcoran. NRT bought it in 2001 for $66 million. Corcoran later left the company. One of the original "Shark" investors, Corcoran has appeared in every season of ABC's Shark Tank until today. In February of 2020 Corcoran had signed 53 deals, with the largest being a $350,000 investment that covered 40% of Coverplay. Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey, the second of 10 children from a working class Irish Catholic family.  Her mother, Florence, was a household worker. Edwin W. Corcoran Jr. became her father throughout Corcoran's childhood. At times, her family relied upon deliveries of free food from a local grocer. Corcoran recalls her father as someone who would drink occasionally and treated her mother with disrespect. Corcoran struggled through her schooling and was later diagnosed with dyslexia. Corcoran entered high school in St. Cecilia High School Englewood following her departure from her Catholic elementary school. After failing several classes during her first year of high school, Corcoran transferred to Leonia High School, where she was a D-student when she graduated.