Last Updated on March 1, 2024
Who is Daymond John?
Daymond Garfield John is a renowned American businessman. He is mainly known for his role as an investor in the ABC show Shark Tank. Daymond John was born to Magot and Garfield John. His mother raised him after his parents’ divorce. As such, he took up menial jobs to support his struggling mum from a very young age.
Daymond was in a flexible program in high school that permitted him to work full-time while attending classes on scheduled days. Since he could not afford to go to college, he took up other jobs to earn some money.
In 1992, he started a fashion brand with some of his neighborhood friends. They were strategic with their goals to gain recognition in the fashion market. Soon enough, their efforts paid off.
The brand, Fubu, is one of the few in the fashion industry, from the 1900s, that are still in existence. Daymond also has other streams of income. He is an American businessman, fashion designer, author, motivational speaker, TV personality, and brand ambassador.
He is married with three children, two from his first marriage and one with his current wife.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Daymond Garfield John |
Popular Name: | Daymond John |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | February 23, 1969 |
Age: | 54 years |
Parents: | Margot John, Garfield John |
Siblings: | N/A |
Birth Place: | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Caribbean |
Education: | Bayside High School |
Marital Status: | Married |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Heather Taras |
Children: | Yasmeen John, Destiny John, Minka Jagas |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | $350 million |
Source of Wealth: | American businessman |
Height: | 5ft6 (1.69m) |
Weight: | 72kg (159lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Daymond John grew up in Hollis, a small middle-class community in Queens, New York. When he was 10, his parents got a divorce. As a result, his mother instilled the culture of hard work in him from a young age.
Consequently, Daymond became highly business-oriented. He was always on the lookout for an opportunity and would act on it swiftly when one presented itself. Even while in high school, he enrolled in a program that enabled him to work full time.
In a world of survival of the fittest, the ability to generate a business idea is unarguably an essential skill to be possessed. Daymond was one of the few with such power.
While he was growing up, there began a knock-off wool ski hats trend. Daymond thought it ridiculous that the hats cost $20. So, he decided to capitalize on that. He pitched the idea to some of his neighborhood friends, and together they made dozens of it and sold each at half the market price.
After the success of their first venture, they made screen-printed T-shirts, which they sold in their community at events. Next, they started making hockey jerseys, sweatshirts, and T-shirts and printed their logo, Fubu.
The idea behind the name, Fubu, which means For Us By Us, was all about culture, not color. It showed a group of hardworking young men trying to make an honest living for themselves.
At that time, hip-hop music was trending. Daymond loved the concept, as he saw it as a way artists communicate their thoughts and feelings. He wanted to be a part of the hip-hop wave so much that he decided to associate his brand with it. His mother supported him as she mortgaged her house for $100,000 to raise his start-up capital.
He started by loaning his branded clothes to rappers in over 30 music videos to create brand awareness. Beyonce, Will Smith, and LeToya Luckett were some of the first to wear Fubu in music videos. His big break came when his old friend, LL Cool J, wore a Fubu T-shirt and hat in different television appearances.
With his success in boosting his brand popularity, he had to take another mortgage on his mother’s house to meet up with orders. Many banks denied him loans, and with his last cash, he secured an advert placement in New York Times, which resulted in a deal with Samsung Textiles. In less than seven years of being founded, Fubu had become a multi-million dollar company.
Daymond has gained global recognition in different areas. He is the founder and CEO of “The Shark Group,” a firm aimed at giving support in the form of advice to small businesses. In addition, he plays a role as an investor in “The Shark Tank,” a Television show. He has also written and published bestseller books and received a couple of awards and endorsement deals.
Daymond runs an online program for training young entrepreneurs called Daymond on Demand. He also co-founded a program, Daymond John’s Success Formula, now known as Next Level Success, to teach entrepreneurs about building their businesses.
He is currently married to Heather Taras, and the two have a daughter together, Minka Jagger. However, Daymond has two more children, Yasmeen John, and Destiny John, from his first marriage.
Daymond John’s Net Worth
Daymond John was not born into an affluent home, but he has climbed his way to the top through hard work and perseverance. In like manner, he also supports young entrepreneurs in their journey by making investments. It is not surprising that Daymond John’s net worth is estimated to be a whopping $350 million, as he is a man with multiple sources of income.
Lessons from the Life of Daymond John
Success is an Opportunity Met with Preparation.
“Don’t wait for the perfect time, you will wait forever. Always take advantage of the time that you’re given.” – Daymond John.
Daymond’s life story teaches us the importance of preparedness. Likewise, we should equip ourselves with the necessary skills and treat every opportunity as urgent.
Networking is Key
“Align yourself with the right people. Forge the right relationships, and you’ll set yourself up for the long run.” – Daymond John.
Daymond’s ability to make the right connections and maintain healthy relationships helped him achieve his goals. It is essential to network with the right people because your network is your net worth in the long run.