Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran is an American businesswoman. In 2001, she established The Corcoran Group in New York City. She later sold the business to NRT for $66 million. Shortly thereafter she left the business. Corcoran is one of ABC’s first Shark Tank investors. Since her inception she has appeared in every season of Shark Tank. Since February of 2020, she had signed 53 deals for the show, with the biggest being a $350,000 investment to purchase 40% of Coverplay. Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey, the second child of 10 from a working class Irish Catholic family. Florence was her mother. She was an excellent household worker. Her father, Edwin W. Corcoran Jr. moved between jobs throughout Corcoran's youth. Her family depended sometimes on the food provided by the local grocer who would deliver free food. Corcoran still remembers her father as someone who drank sometimes and did not treat her mother with respect. Corcoran had difficulty at school and was later told that she was dyslexic. Corcoran began high school in St. Cecilia High School Englewood following her departure from her Catholic elementary school. Corcoran completed her studies at Leonia High School with a degree in English after failing several courses during her freshman years.