Daymond John

Born in Brooklyn in 1969, Daymond John followed his passions for hip-hop and sewing, and managed to create an empire. Growing up in the Hollis area of Queens, John shoveled show and mowed lawns; anything to help out, especially after his father left the house. In 1989 Johns turned a talent for sewing into the seeds of a multibillion dollar business, when he began embroidering hats with the logo FUBU, and then began showing up at rap and hip hop video sets, hoping to get them on an artist. First it was Brand Nubian, then O' Dirty Bastard, then Busta Rhymes, but Johns true break came when LL Cool J wore a FUBU hat in a nationwide Gap commercial and looked in the camera to say "For Us, By Us." Once the seed was planted, John and his three lifelong partners, teamed up with Samsung for international distribution and turned FUBU into brand recognized around the world, not just selling hats, but also clothes and, more importantly, the hip hop lifestyle. In 2009, John gained additional exposure when he joined the cast of "Shark Tank" (ABC, 2009-) as one of the advisors and judges deciding among contestants who try to convince them that their business is worth pursuing.