Quick Info
| Profession | Businesswoman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 27/02/1971 |
| Age | 55 years |
| Birthplace | Clearwater, Florida, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Latest News about Sara Blakely
01/05/2026
Florida State University awarded Sara Blakely an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during its Spring 2026 commencement ceremony on 1 May 2026. She also delivered the commencement address, recognizing her career as an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In her speech she urged graduates to take ownership of their own mindset and growth.
01/05/2026
Sara Blakely was scheduled to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2026 for inventing footless control top pantyhose and creating the Spanx brand. The honor recognizes how she turned a $5,000 startup into a billion-dollar shapewear company.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | American businesswoman and philanthropist who founded Spanx, a billion-dollar intimate apparel company, and later created the footwear brand Sneex in 2024. She became the world's youngest female self-made billionaire in 2012 and was recognized by Forbes as a Global Game Changer and by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. In 2026, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her invention of footless control top pantyhose. In 2021, she sold a majority stake in Spanx while remaining executive chairwoman and part owner. |
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Educational Qualification(s)
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Relationships & More
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Family
| Full Name | Sara Treleaven Blakely |
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| Children | Two sons |
Career
| Early Career | Door-to-door fax machine salesperson at Danka |
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| Founding of Spanx | Founded Spanx in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 with $5,000 in savings. Created footless body-slimming pantyhose. Sold over 50,000 pairs in first three months from her apartment. Product featured on Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things list. Maintained 100% ownership by refusing outside funding and reinvesting all profits until later ownership changes. |
| Other Ventures | Founded Sneex footwear brand in 2024 |
| Television | Cast member on The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best, finishing as first runner-up and receiving $750,000 from Richard Branson |
| Honors | Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2026; named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People |
| Ownership Update | Sold a majority stake in Spanx in 2021 to Blackstone while remaining executive chairwoman and part owner |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Originally wanted footless bodyshaping pantyhose to wear with cream-colored pants and open-toed shoes, which inspired the creation of Spanx | |
| 2. Spanx revitalized the hosiery industry which had been in a 10-year slump | |
| 3. Received $750,000 from Richard Branson to start her foundation after appearing on The Rebel Billionaire | |
| 4. Met Nelson Mandela during her television appearances | |
| 5. Failed an audition for the part of Goofy at Disney's Orlando theme park early in her career | |
| 6. Hired a professional CEO to run Spanx so she could focus on sales and business development | |
| 7. Graduated from Florida International University in 1993 with a degree in Communications | |
| 8. Her father gave her motivational cassette tapes as a teenager, which she later cited as a key influence on her mindset |
Social Media