Sara Blakely
In Atlanta, Georgia, she started the intimate clothing brand Spanx, which sells pants and leggings. Blakely was included in Time magazine's "Time 100" list of the world's 100 most powerful individuals in 2012. Forbes ranked her as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world in 2014.
Entrepreneur & Founder of Spanx
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1971 (Age 54, as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Florida State University (B.A., Communication) |
| Current Net Worth | Estimated approx $1.0 – $1.3 Billion |
| Title Portfolio | Founder (Spanx); Entrepreneur; Investor; Philanthropist |
| Key Status | #SelfMadeBillionaire, #Entrepreneurship, #WomenInBusiness, #Philanthropy |
Sara Treleaven Blakely (born February 27, 1971) is an American businesswoman and philanthropist who founded Spanx, an intimate apparel company specializing in shapewear and leggings. She became the youngest self-made female billionaire in 2012 and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.
Early Life and Education
Birth and Family
Blakely was born in Clearwater, Florida, to Ellen, an artist, and John Blakely, a trial lawyer.
Academic Background
She attended Clearwater High School and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in communication.
Early Ambitions
She originally planned to become an attorney but changed direction after scoring poorly on the Law School Admission Test.
Early Career Disney and Comedy
Blakely briefly worked at Walt Disney World and performed stand-up comedy.
Door-to-Door Sales
She later worked for Danka selling fax machines and became a national sales trainer at age 25.
The Invention
Preparing for a party, she cut the feet off pantyhose to create a smoother silhouette under white trousers—an idea that became the prototype for Spanx.
Spanx and Business Growth Development
Using $5,000 in savings, Blakely developed her hosiery idea while still working her sales job.
Manufacturing
After many rejections, a hosiery mill in North Carolina agreed to produce her design.
The Oprah Effect
In 2000, Oprah Winfrey named Spanx one of her “Favorite Things,” greatly increasing sales and recognition. Major Milestone: In 2021, Blackstone Group acquired a majority stake in Spanx, valuing the company at about $1.2 billion. Television and Philanthropy Reality TV
Blakely finished second on The Rebel Billionaire, where she met mentor Richard Branson, and later appeared as a guest investor on Shark Tank.
The Giving Pledge
In 2013, she joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of her wealth.
Foundation
She launched the Sara Blakely Foundation to support women’s education and entrepreneurship.
Personal Life
Marriage
In 2008, she married Jesse Itzler; they have four children.
Faith
Blakely later converted to Judaism.
References
- “Sara Blakely.” Time. https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people/
- “Sara Blakely Biography.” Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/sara-blakely
- Florida State University Alumni Profiles. https://www.fsu.edu
- O’Connor, Clare. “How Sara Blakely Turned $5,000 Into A Billion-Dollar Brand.” Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/sara-blakely/
- “From Disney Employee to Billionaire Founder.” CNN Business. https://edition.cnn.com
- Spanx Founder Sara Blakely Profile. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/sara-blakely/
- Spanx Company History. https://www.spanx.com
- Blakely, Sara. “How I Built This.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/programs/how-i-built-this/
- Bort, Julie. “How Spanx Got Its Start.” Inc. Magazine. https://www.inc.com
- Oprah’s Favorite Things Archive. https://www.oprah.com/oprahs-favorite-things
- Blackstone Acquires Stake in Spanx. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com
- “The Rebel Billionaire.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426733/
- The Giving Pledge Signatories. https://www.givingpledge.org
- Sara Blakely Foundation. https://www.sarablakelyfoundation.org
- “Sara Blakely and Jesse Itzler.” People Magazine. https://people.com
- “Sara Blakely’s Faith Journey.” Jewish Journal. https://jewishjournal.com
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