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

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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

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.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Leadership

Strong Leaders Thrive in Complexity — Here Are 5 Leadership Level-Ups for 2025

Leadership isn't static. It's a journey of continual learning and evolution. Here are some lessons for leaders this year.