For someone who aggressively believes in the idea of keeping her money floating instead of stacking, Barbara Corcoran has been doing a great job, given her $100 million net worth. She is one of the less cut-throat and more endearing presences on the Shark Tank panel. That clubbed with her benevolent nature with money makes her a case to study that begs the question: What are some of Barbara Corcoran’s million-dollar business selection secrets? It leaves you wondering how she decides which risks are worth taking.
Barbara Corcoran: From Real Estate Mogul to Shark Tank Investor
Barbara Corcoran is an investor, real estate mogul, author, and TV personality. She is well-known as a Shark on the Shark Tank show.
Her fortune-making career took off in 1973 when she borrowed $1,000 to launch a small real estate business in New York City. That modest start grew into The Corcoran Group, a powerhouse firm that became one of the most respected brokerages in the country.
She sold The Corcoran Group in 2001 for $66 million, cementing her reputation as one of New York’s most influential real estate moguls
Barbara Corcoran’s Million Dollar Business Selection Secrets
Barbara is no gatekeeper, and her surprisingly simple business selection secrets are out there for you to seek and find, as listed below:
Why Barbara Corcoran Bets on Entrepreneurs Over Ideas
Barbara’s school of thought when it comes to investing revolves more around the entrepreneur than the business itself.
On an episode of Lo on the Go, Barbara Corcoran explained that the type of business doesn’t matter much to her. What matters is the person running it.
Barbara looks for entrepreneurs who can take a hit, bounce back quickly, and keep moving forward.
Reflecting on her own path, she shared that resilience was the real driver behind building her company. In her view, every successful entrepreneur has that same ability to rise after setbacks.
Her advice is simpler than you’d imagine. Don’t quit, even when things feel impossible. If you stay in the game long enough, luck has a way of finding you, as per Barbara.
Accountability: The Non-Negotiable Trait Barbara Demands
Barbara Corcoran believes one of the biggest differences between entrepreneurs who thrive and those who fall short is accountability. The first thing she looks at before betting on an entrepreneur and their business is accountability (or lack thereof).
If an owner starts blaming others, she sees it as a red flag. In her eyes, that attitude guarantees failure because it keeps them stuck in a victim role. Her mantra is that if it’s your business, the burden is yours; so accept it and keep pushing ahead.
Barbara Corcoran’s Most Successful Shark Tank Investments
Barbara Corcoran has struck over 80 deals on Shark Tank. The best of the lot are listed below:
The Comfy
Barbara Corcoran often points to The Comfy as her biggest win during her time on Shark Tank. She put in $50,000 for a 30 percent share in the idea of a giant wearable blanket-cum-hoodie back in 2017.
Quick Facts
- Founders: Brian Speciale, Michael Speciale
- Product: Apparel – Loungewear
- Investment Asked: $50,000 for 20% equity
- Deal Outcome: $50,000 for 30% equity
It was probably the first true start-up on the show as they had no sales at the time of appearance and were looking for an investment to start out. The gamble paid off. The Comfy has since grown into one of the show’s biggest success stories, bringing in around $468 million for Corcoran.
Daisy Cakes
Daisy Cakes was built around homemade recipes for a bakery passed down through generations. The founder, Kim Nelson, was aiming to commercialize it and share her homemade sweet treats with a wider audience.
Quick Facts
- Founder: Kim Nelson
- Product: Cakes
- Investment Asked: $50,000 for 25% equity
- Deal Outcome: $50,000 for 25% equity + $1 per cake royalty until investment is recovered
Before the show, Daisy Cakes filled about 2,000 orders a year. They hit the same number within a day when their episode aired.
As of 2025, the bakery generates roughly $1.2 million in annual sales, turning Corcoran’s early bet into a profitable partnership.
Pipsnacks
Jeff and Jennifer Martin created PipSnacks in 2010 after experimenting with heirloom corn that popped into smaller, easier-to-eat kernels with barely any hulls. Their product was gluten-free, did not require any butter, and came in 5 flavors.
Quick Facts
- Founder: Jeff Martin, Jennifer Martin
- Product: Healthy and flavored popcorn
- Investment Asked: $20,000 for 10% equity
- Deal Outcome: $200,000 for 10% equity + 10% payout on any cash Jeff and Jen withdraw until she earns back her investment.
After landing a deal with Barbara Corcoran, Pipcorn’s sales skyrocketed from $200K to over $1 million within months, and by 2024, the brand was in 25,000 stores nationwide with annual revenue hitting $12 million.
Lessons from Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran’s investing journey offers valuable takeaways for entrepreneurs and business owners alike:
- Resilience matters more than the idea: Barbara invests in people who can bounce back and not those with flashy concepts.
- Accountability builds trust: She avoids entrepreneurs who blame others and values those who own both wins and losses.
- Mindset drives long-term success: Perseverance and grit are more valuable than a polished pitch.
- Luck favors persistence: Staying in the game long enough gives opportunities a chance to show up.
Why Barbara Corcoran Believes Mindset Beats Product
Barbara Corcoran’s career proves that backing the right people can be more important than the business itself. Her Shark Tank success is rooted in her ability to vibe-check the entrepreneur and then taking their business above and beyond.
Apart from the aforementioned business, her other notable investments include Cousins Maine Lobster and Grace & Lace.
Barbara puts her money in her belief and determination rather than in polished products. This, in turn, fuels the fire of the untested products and turns them into multimillion-dollar brands.
Her Shark Tank philosophy is all about the fact that the right mindset often matters more than the right product (and shhh, we don’t speak of her Mix Bikini deal when we say that).
