📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Barbara Corcoran Reveals She Was Almost Fired From 'Shark Tank' Before Filming Even Began: ' I Do My Best Work When My Back Is Against the Wall' The real estate mogul took to Instagram to share what really went down when she was cast for the show.

By Emily Rella

entrepreneur daily
Getty Images

Barbara Corcoran has been wheeling deals on "Shark Tank" since the show premiered in 2009.

But what many don't know is that Corcoran was almost fired from the ABC hit before she even stepped foot in front of the cameras.

The real estate mogul took to Instagram this week to share with viewers the wild story of how she really earned that coveted seat.

RELATED: 'I've Had A Few Letdowns': Barbara Corcoran Spills Behind-the-Scenes 'Shark Tank' Secrets

Corcoran said that she received a call from someone who said they worked for producer Mark Burnett and that they were casting for a new show called "Shark Tank."

Joking that she thought the show was about fishing, Corcoran said she "was hooked" once she found out the premise and immediately signed her contract without even reading it, she said. She then hopped over to the iconic store Bergdorf Goodman to buy expensive luggage to get in the mindset of someone rich and famous.

But then, the unexpected happened.

"The day before I was supposed to leave for LA, that same lady called me to tell me they had changed their mind and were giving the lone female seat to another woman," Corcoran explained.

RELATED: Barbara Corcoran Reveals How She Made $1 Million In Just One Day: 'Nobody Wants What Nobody Wants'

So what did Corcoran do?

She sat down and wrote an email to Mark Burnett himself, imploring him to invite both women to the studio to compete for the role.

"Mark all the good stuff happened in my life on the heels of rejection, you know I do my best work when my back is against the wall," she penned to the producer. "I consider your rejection to be a lucky charm, and I booked my flight and hope to be on that plane."

Corcoran then flew out to LA and won the seat, where she's remained for the past 14 years.

RELATED: 'The Dumbest Sh-t Ever': Mark Cuban Slams Metaverse Real Estate

"The lesson is always the same," she said. "All the good stuff happens after you get back up."

Corcoran's net worth is estimated to be around $100 million.

RELATED: 'Lemons Into Lemonade': Barbara Corcoran Shares Hilarious Story About How She Was Mistaken for a Prostitute

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Business News

These Are the 10 Most Profitable Cities for Airbnb Hosts, According to a New Report

Here's where Airbnb property owners and hosts are making the most money.

Side Hustle

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Successful Business

A hobby, interest or charity project can turn into a money-making business if you know the right steps to take.

Productivity

Want to Be More Productive? Here's How Google Executives Structure Their Schedules

These five tactics from inside Google will help you focus and protect your time.

Starting a Business

This Couple Turned Their Startup Into a $150 Million Food Delivery Company. Here's What They Did Early On to Make It Happen.

Selling only online to your customers has many perks. But the founders of Little Spoon want you to know four things if you want to see accelerated growth.