Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely is an American entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist recognized for revolutionizing the fashion and shapewear industries. She founded Spanx in 2000 with 5,000 dollars in personal savings and grew the company into a global apparel brand without outside investment. In 2012, she became the youngest self-made female billionaire on the Forbes list. [1][2][9] Blakely sold a majority stake in Spanx to Blackstone in 2021 at a 1.2 billion dollar valuation and continues to serve as the company's visionary founder. [2][3][10] In 2024, she launched Sneex, a luxury hybrid footwear brand that blends high-heel aesthetics with sneaker performance. [11][12] Her recent honors include induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2026 and receiving an honorary doctorate from Florida State University. [13] A dedicated philanthropist, she signed the Giving Pledge and established the Sara Blakely Foundation to support female entrepreneurs through education and funding. She also maintains a minority ownership stake in the Atlanta Hawks. [2][9]