Daymond John

Daymond John started FUBU in his mom’s house in Queens. Literally sewing hats and t-shirts and hockey jerseys in the basement. That’s not a figure of speech, that’s what happened. He and his friends would make the clothes, sell them on the streets, and pour every dollar back into making more.

He grew up in Hollis, Queens, started working at ten years old after his parents divorced, and by high school he was doing a program where he alternated between school and working full time. He waited tables at Red Lobster, ran a commuter van service, and did whatever it took to fund FUBU in those early days.

The brand exploded in the 90s. FUBU became a staple of hip-hop culture and streetwear, generating over $6 billion in global sales. For a brand that started in a basement, that’s absolutely insane. Daymond built all of that without venture capital, without Silicon Valley connections, without any of the advantages that a lot of entrepreneurs take for granted.

On Shark Tank he’s been there since day one and he’s one of the most consistent sharks on the show. He gravitates toward fashion, consumer products, and businesses where branding and hustle matter more than technology. His whole philosophy is captured in his book “The Power of Broke,” which is basically about how having no money forces you to be creative. He lived that.

He was also appointed by President Obama as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, which is one of those things that sounds made up but is a real program.

Some highlights:

• Founded FUBU in his mom’s basement, grew it to over $6 billion in global sales
• Original Shark Tank cast member since season 1
• Author of “The Power of Broke”
• Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under President Obama