Sara Blakely

Spanx

Sara Blakely is founder and owner of shapewear brand Spanx, which sells undergarments, leggings, swimwear and maternity wear in over 50 countries. In October 2021, Blackstone announced it would buy a majority stake in Spanx , valuing the company at $1.2 billion. She initially “shilled” her new invention, which became shapewear brand Spanx, on the sales floor at various Neiman Marcus stores. While Spanx is a celebrity favorite, Sara is becoming a celebrity herself. She was a guest judge on ‘Shark Tank’ and had a cameo in ‘Billions.’ A onetime door-to-door fax machine salesperson, she made a makeshift undergarment using pantyhose to wear under white slacks. Sara received her BA from Florida State University.

Year appointed: 2000