Sara Blakely, born on February 27, 1971, in Clearwater, Florida, is an American entrepreneur and inventor. She is the founder of Spanx, a revolutionary brand of body-slimming undergarments, which she launched in 2000 with just $5,000 in savings. Her innovative approach to shapewear made her the youngest self-made female billionaire in 2012. Beyond her business success, Sara is a philanthropist, supporting women through the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation and being a signatory of the Giving Pledge.

Before founding Spanx and achieving immense success, Sara Blakely worked a variety of jobs. She initially planned to become an attorney but changed her path after scoring poorly on the LSAT. She then worked at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for three months, where she also occasionally performed as a stand-up comedian. Later, she took a job at Danka, an office supply company, where she sold fax machines door-to-door. This role required her to wear pantyhose in the hot Florida climate, which inspired her to create Spanx. Her experience in sales and her innovative thinking laid the groundwork for her entrepreneurial journey.

Sara Blakely made her fortune by founding Spanx, a revolutionary shapewear brand. She started the company in 2000 with just $5,000 in savings and a simple idea: to create seamless, footless pantyhose that solved common wardrobe challenges. Despite facing initial rejections from hosiery manufacturers, her persistence paid off when she developed a prototype and secured a deal with Neiman Marcus to sell her product in their stores. Spanx quickly gained popularity, especially after being endorsed by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. The brand expanded its product line to include leggings, swimwear, and maternity wear, becoming a global success. In 2012, Sara was named the youngest self-made female billionaire by Forbes, cementing her place as a trailblazing entrepreneur. Her innovative thinking and determination turned a simple idea into a billion-dollar empire.