Daymond John

Daymond Garfield John is an American entrepreneur, investor, television personality, author, and motivational speaker best known as the founder of the hip-hop fashion brand FUBU and as a shark on ABC's "Shark Tank." Born on February 23, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens, John built one of the most iconic American fashion brands from literally nothing — sewing hats on his mother's sewing machine in her living room.

John's mother taught him to sew at a young age, and he displayed entrepreneurial instincts from his teens, working at Red Lobster while developing his fashion ideas. In 1992, with just $40 in startup capital, he began sewing FUBU (For Us, By Us) hats and selling them on the streets of Queens. His mother mortgaged her house for $100,000 to help fund the business. John convinced LL Cool J, his neighborhood friend, to wear FUBU in photos and a Gap commercial, providing priceless exposure.

The brand exploded in the mid-1990s, riding the wave of hip-hop culture's mainstream crossover. At its peak, FUBU generated over $350 million in annual revenue and more than $6 billion in cumulative global sales, making it one of the most successful fashion brands of the era. John's ability to understand and authentically represent his community gave FUBU a cultural legitimacy that competitors could not replicate.

Since 2009, John has been one of the original sharks on ABC's "Shark Tank," investing in hundreds of businesses and becoming one of the most recognizable business personalities in America. He also runs The Shark Group, a brand management and consulting firm, and was appointed a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship by President Obama. He is a New York Times bestselling author of "The Power of Broke" and "Rise and Grind," and a sought-after motivational speaker who has inspired millions with his rags-to-riches story.

Born February 23, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York, Daymond John was raised by his mother Margot in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens after his parents divorced when he was ten. His mother worked multiple jobs and taught him to sew, a skill that would prove invaluable. As a teenager, John worked at Red Lobster and hustled various side businesses. He was deeply influenced by hip-hop culture and dreamed of creating a fashion brand that authentically represented his community. That dream started taking shape when he began hand-sewing wool hats and selling them on the streets of Jamaica, Queens.