Daymond John Biography
Daymond John, a founder and CEO of the apparel brand FUBU and a hip-hop fashion designer, was born to Caribbean parents in Brooklyn, New York. John learned to be an entrepreneur while growing up in Queens, New York; he sold everything from pencils to restored cars.
John began his career in the garment sector after working as a waiter at Red Lobster after high school. John started creating hats in 1992 and started selling them at neighborhood fairs and concerts out of his mother’s Queens basement. Given his early success, John sought out his old pals Alexander Martin, Carl Brown, and Keith Perrin, and together they started making tie-top hats. John took out a $100,000 mortgage and opened up shop at his mother’s house. This marked the start of FUBU, which stands for For Us, By Us. Later, FUBU’s assortment grew to include baseball hats, t-shirts, and hockey jerseys, all of which were embroidered with the FUBU logo.
FUBU soon rose to prominence as one of the top urban clothing brands, influencing the style of young African Americans thanks to the early support of John’s friend, performer LL Cool J. But FUBU’s appeal quickly spread beyond of the inner city, to Midwest suburban malls and Russian websites, turning it into a truly global force.
John established the FUBU Foundation in 1997, which raised $1 million yearly. John launched FUBU Entertainment in 2000 as part of his business empire expansion following the success of FUBU The Collection. Professional sportsmen developed a considerable following for FUBU apparel. For the 1999 Indianapolis 500, Nienhouse Motorsports was supported by FUBU Sportswear. FUBU started clothing the Harlem Globetrotters in 2002. For the untapped African American online market, John also developed the Web portal y2g.com.
Daymond John Early life
John was born on February 22, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York City, but was raised in the Queens district of Hollis, where he spent seven years in Catholic school. When his parents separated when he was 10 years old, he started working. One of his earliest jobs involved handing out brochures for $2 ($8.38 in 2023) an hour. He took part in a high school program that let him work a full-time job and go to school on alternate weeks, which he attributes with giving him an entrepreneurial attitude. He created a commuter van service and worked as a waiter at Red Lobster after finishing high school. When John was sixteen, his mother dated an attorney who he regarded as his stepfather and a role model.
Daymond John Career
FUBU
In Hollis, Queens, at his mother’s house, John founded FUBU. John’s mother taught him to sew and helped him by enabling the company to occupy her home as it expanded when he originally got the idea for a clothing line for young men.
At the time, wool ski helmets with their tops tied off with fishing line were fashionable, and John saw them being sold for $20, which he thought was excessive. He returned home and collaborated with his neighbor next door to sew roughly 90 caps. In 1992, they made $800 in a single day by selling their handmade hats for $10 each on the intersection of Jamaica Avenue. Following the hats, they started offering T-shirts with screen prints. They sold at sizable events throughout the Northeast and on consignment to gain traction in the market. John worked a full-time job at Red Lobster and worked on the FUBU company in between shifts to make ends meet.
John and his mother put a $100,000 mortgage on their home because they saw potential and needed the money for a start-up. He also enlisted the help of lifelong pals J. Alexander Martin and Keith Perrin, and he started stitching the FUBU emblem into T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hockey jerseys in addition to Brown. Over the course of two years, they lent roughly 10 of the hockey jerseys to rappers for their music videos and received commercial placements in about 30 of them. Despite being a relatively tiny business, they were seen as a major apparel brand and businesses began asking for their brand.
He persuaded LL Cool J, a longtime neighbor friend, to don a FUBU T-shirt in 1993 for a marketing initiative. Later, when recording a 30-second commercial for The Gap, LL Cool J wore a FUBU hat and rapped the line “for us, by us” while wearing the hat.
John received $300,000 in orders in 1992 or 1994, as well as an invitation to represent Macy’s (M) at the MAGIC trade show in Las Vegas. In order to carry out the directives, they had to take out a second mortgage on his mother’s home. His mother used the remainder of their funds to purchase an advertisement in the New York Times after being denied a loan by 27 institutions. The advertisement led to FUBU and Samsung Textiles working together to fulfill orders.
FUBU has generated sales of more than $6 billion worldwide.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture exhibits FUBU.
Shark Tank
Mark Burnett called John in 2009 and asked him to join the cast of ABC’s new reality business program Shark Tank, which allows business owners to pitch their ventures to investors, or “Sharks,” in the hopes of getting funding. In May 2022, Shark Tank’s 13th season came to an end. As of May 12, 2017, John had put $8,567,000 of his own money into Shark Tank businesses. By 2015, his preferred investments had been Al “Bubba” Baker’s boneless ribs and Bombas socks. From 2012 through 2014, Shark Tank won the Outstanding Reality Program Emmy Award, which it received again in 2016.
On Shark Tank Season 5, John made an investment in Bubba’s-Q Boneless Ribs and helped the business expand from $154,000 in annual sales to $16 million in just three years. In 2017, Carl’s Jr. and Bubba’s-Q Boneless Ribs collaborated to develop the limited-edition Baby Back Rib Burger.
John struck a novel arrangement with Moziah “Mo” Bridges, the 15-year-old proprietor of Mo’s Bows, during Season 5 of Shark Tank. John made the decision to coach Mo’s Bows rather than investing in the startup. Recently, Mo’s Bows and the NBA reached a seven-figure licensing agreement to produce bow ties featuring the clubs’ emblems. Mo’s Bows were being sold at Neiman Marcus when there was an update on the program.
Shark Tank Season 6’s investment in Bombas Socks led to an increase in overall sales for the business from $450,000 in the first nine months to $12 million. Bombas distributes a pair of socks to a person in need for each pair of socks that is sold.
On Shark Tank Season 6, John made an investment in Sun-Staches, which have now made over $4.2 million in sales.
Shark Tank has received nine nominations and four Emmy Awards.
The Shark Group
The Shark Group, a brand management and consultancy company, was founded and is led by John. The Shark Group’s headquarters are in Manhattan, New York.
Daymond John Consulting and speaking
John has developed his speaking skills. Additionally, he represents the Shopify e-commerce brand.
He agreed to a contract with Audible in 2021.
Daymond John Next Level Success
John co-founded Daymond John’s Success Formula in 2015 as a course to help business owners and entrepreneurs launch and expand their enterprises.
Daymond John’s Success Formula changed its name to Next Level Success in September 2019.
The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship is one of the organizations that the program collaborates with.
Two students are given $1,500 scholarships each year through the program. With this award, we wish to encourage the next wave of business leaders.
Daymond John Other appearances
John made an appearance on Joey’s World Tour in 2018, a YouTube program devoted to reviewing fast food.
John participated in season eight of The Masked Singer in 2022 as a “Fortune Teller” who drove a vehicle resembling a fortune teller machine. He was eliminated on “TV Theme Night” with the “Mummies” Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, and Barry Williams.
Dec. 7-9, 2022, John served as a special guest narrator for Disney’s Candlelight Processional.
Daymond John Personal life
John has dyslexia. His two favorite books are Rich Dad Poor Dad and Think and Grow Rich.
John was identified as having thyroid cancer in stage II in April 2017. John underwent surgery to have the malignant lesion removed successfully.
John wed Heather Taras in 2018, his second wife with whom he shares Minka Jagger as a daughter. His first marriage produced two children, Destiny and Yasmeen.
John is religious.
Daymond John Philanthropy
John is on the NFTE Board of Overseers and contributes by hosting or serving as a judge at events. NFTE is a worldwide organization with chapters in 12 nations that instructs kids in underprivileged areas about the importance of entrepreneurship and fundamental competencies.
Louis Farrakhan comments
John sent a message honoring Louis Farrakhan after attending DMX’s funeral:
“Minister Louis Farrakhan gave such an inspiring address…His profound knowledge of the Bible and regard for other people’s faiths were incredibly encouraging.
When Farrakhan’s history of anti-Semitism was brought up, John instantly faced reaction. John quickly tweeted his apology.
Regarding my tweet about DMX’s funeral, my criticism of Minister Farrakhan was solely based on what I saw tonight, unaware of his previous positions. As someone who was fortunate to have a Jewish stepdad, I do not and would never condone any anti Semitic, prejudice, or remarks of hatred. The previous tweet will be deleted to spare anyone who has already been affected by any of his harsh words extra suffering and confusion.
He removed his earlier tweet.
Daymond John Trivia
Established and FUBU in 1992.
three girls, three.
has his own digital training program, Daymond on Daymond, for business owners who are dedicated in expanding their enterprises.
He attributes his road to success as an entrepreneur to his dyslexia.
Daymond turned down his first two invitations to appear on Shark Tank.
stage II thyroid carcinoma was discovered in April 2017. The malignant nodule was successfully removed during surgery.
He was named a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) by President Obama in 2015. The PAGE initiative seeks to expand global entrepreneurs’ access to funding, education, and mentorship.
He learned to sew from his mum.
FUBU has generated sales of more than $6 billion worldwide.
On the fifth season of “Shark Tank,” John struck a special arrangement with Moziah “Mo” Bridges, the 15-year-old proprietor of Mo’s Bows. He made the choice to advise the budding business rather than investing in Mo’s Bows.
is a representative of the Shopify brand.
When he first founded FUBU, he used to work at Red Lobster.
He joined the business co-op program in high school, where he alternated weeks between the classroom and the First Boston investment bank in Manhattan.
How did Daymond make his money?
Daymond John built his reputation — and his millions — as the co-founder and CEO of sportswear manufacturer FUBU (“For Us By Us”). Today, he is best known as the immaculately dressed star investor of the reality series Shark Tank. FUBU, which was established in 1992, came to represent hip-hop.
Who is Daymond John summary?
Entrepreneur, business consultant, and motivational speaker Daymond John. He co-founded the $6 billion sportswear brand FUBU and serves as its president and CEO. He is the author of three books, including The Power of Broke, a bestseller.
What are some fun facts about Daymond John?
Although John was raised in the Hollis district of Queens and attended Catholic school for seven years, he was actually born on February 22, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York City. When his parents separated when he was 10 years old, he started working. One of his first jobs involved handing out brochures for $2 ($7.42 in today’s dollars) an hour.
What is the background of Daymond John?
Entrepreneur and media personality in hip-hop fashion Theodore Garfield On February 23, 1969, John was born in Brooklyn to Trinidadian parents Margot and Garfield John. He was raised in Queens and began working at the age of 10 by selling pencils and giving out brochures for $2 on the streets.
How many companies does Daymond John own?
Daymond John, the president, CEO, and founder of FUBU, transformed the sportswear sector with a distinctive clothing line that appealed to consumers beyond the urban market. Since then, he has gone on to own and run a number of additional labels, including Heatherette, Crown Holder, Kappa USA, and Coogi.
What business did Daymond John own?
John is the CEO and Founder of FUBU, a well-known worldwide lifestyle brand with more than $6 billion in global product sales. He is also a pioneer in the fashion sector.
What brand did Daymond John invent?
Daymond John, a founder and CEO of the apparel brand FUBU and a hip-hop fashion designer, was born to Caribbean parents in Brooklyn, New York.
What makes Daymond John a good leader?
John: My leadership style focuses more on motivating others than swaying them. I support my team in looking for and seizing new chances by giving them the tools they might need to do so.
How did Daymond John become a successful entrepreneur?
Daymond John is an entrepreneur and Shark Tank celebrity. John grew up in Queens, New York, where he had an ambition of dressing hip-hop celebrities. He converted his mother’s home into a factory, advertised using graffiti, and used music video sets as his front. John eventually succeeded in making his business, FUBU, a household name.
