Daymond John

About Daymond John

Daymond John was born on February 23, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens. His parents, Garfield and Margot John, were working-class individuals who divorced when Daymond was young. He has credited his mother for being a significant influence on his life, as she encouraged and supported him in his entrepreneurial pursuits.^[4] 

John attended Bayside High School in Queens, New York, where he participated in a program that allowed him to work a full-time job and attend school on alternating weeks.^[5] This early work experience taught him valuable lessons about business and entrepreneurship.

Through his hard work, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit, John went on to turn his idea for an urban fashion brand, which he later named FUBU, into a global brand that resonated with millions of people. 

Former President Barack Obama appointed John a “Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship” (PAGE) due to his energy, ideas, and experience in building businesses from the ground up.^[6] John has also won awards related to business success including: Brand Week Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices.^[1] 

Founding and Growing FUBU

John founded FUBU (which stands for “For Us, By Us”) in 1992 with the help of his mother, who mortgaged her house for $100,000 to support his idea.^[1][7] At the time, John was working at Red Lobster and selling hats on the side, but he saw an opportunity in the urban fashion market for clothing that spoke to hip-hop culture.

John and his friends began sewing hats, T-shirts, and sweatshirts in his house and selling them on the streets of Queens, New York. They soon gained a following and started selling their products in local stores and at trade shows. In 1993, FUBU was featured in a music video by the rapper LL Cool J, which helped to propel the brand to national attention.^[4] 

FUBU’s popularity continued to grow throughout the 1990s as the brand became known for its distinctive urban style and its emphasis on celebrating Black culture. FUBU expanded its product line to include a range of clothing and accessories, becoming one of the most successful urban fashion brands of the era.^[8] 

Shark Tank, Investing, and Net Worth

John is a highly successful entrepreneur and investor who’s made a significant impact on the fashion and business industries, as well as the entrepreneurial community at large.

In 2009, John joined the cast of Shark Tank in its first season. Shark Tank is an ABC show about startups and entrepreneurs who are looking for investments from successful business “sharks.” As one of the original sharks, John has been with the show since the beginning and is now a shark on the fourteenth season.^[9] 

According to John’s website, “Shark Tank has maintained an impressive average weekly viewership of over 8 million and has won 4 Emmy Awards.”^[3] He’s invested in numerous businesses and mentored aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the years. Examples of businesses that John has invested in on Shark Tank include: ^[10] 

• Bombas: A sock company that donates a pair of socks to the homeless for every pair sold.
• Groovebook: A subscription service for a custom photo book made from smartphone photos. 
• Al “Bubba” Baker’s Boneless Ribs: A company that sells patented boneless ribs.
• Sun-Staches: A company that makes novelty sunglasses. 
• Mo’s Bows: A handmade bow tie company founded by a young entrepreneur.
• The Original Comfy: A product that combines a blanket and a sweatshirt.
• AquaVault: A portable outdoor safe for securing valuables at the beach or pool.

John also helped found The Shark Group, a marketing firm that “offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.”^[1] 

As of March 2023, John’s net worth is estimated to be around $350 million, which he’s earned from FUBU, investment deals, book sales, and speaking engagements.^[11] 

Aside from his writing and investing, John frequently shares his expertise and experiences in business by serving as a motivational speaker. He’s spoken at various events, conferences, and seminars on the principles and strategies that have contributed to his financial success.^[2] 

Books

John has written several books about being a self-starter and entrepreneur, investor, and business owner. His books also touch upon branding, marketing, and personal development. His 2016 book The Power of Broke became a New York Times bestseller.^[12] Overall, John writes to educate and inspire people to pursue their dreams and achieve success in business. 

Here are a few of John’s notable books and what they’re about:^[13] 

• Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding, and Lifestyle (2007): In this book, John shares his journey of creating FUBU and discusses the principles he used to build the brand, touching on marketing and branding.
• The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage (2016): Here, John shares his belief that starting a business with limited resources can actually be an advantage and offers practical advice on how to succeed in business without significant financial backing.
• Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life (2018): This book highlights the importance of hard work, discipline, and perseverance in achieving success. John shares stories of successful people from various fields and provides insights into their daily routines and work ethics.
• Powershift: Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome (2020): John speaks in his latest book about transforming difficult situations in order to overcome them and close deals.
• Little Daymond Learns to Earn (2023): This kid’s book explains the basics of business and finances to children.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

John tends to be private about his personal life, however he’s discussed his beliefs about the importance of strong family connections, philanthropic involvement, and a commitment to health and well-being.^[14] 

John has a long-term partner, and now wife, Heather Taras, with whom he has a daughter named Minka Jagger John.^[15] He also has two other daughters from previous relationships.^[16] 

In 2017, John spoke out about being diagnosed with stage II thyroid cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the cancerous nodule, and since then, he has been actively promoting cancer awareness and encouraging others to get regular check-ups.^[17] 

A commitment to philanthropy is another topic that John publicly discusses.^[18] He’s actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives and has worked with organizations such as the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), which aims to educate young people from low-income communities about business success. Additionally, he has supported charitable causes like the Sharkey Hearing Foundation, Global Learning XPRIZE, and the Petco Foundation.^[19]