From $40 to $350M: What Daymond John Learned the Hard Way

Sharks Tank’s Daymond John didn’t sugarcoat it—the worst advice he got wasn’t about strategy or timing. It was about attitude: “discard people because you have money to lose.” His take? That’s toxic. Whether you’re broke or loaded, burning bridges is a business move you’ll regret.

But here’s what really hit him: lack of financial literacy almost bankrupted him THREE times. Yeah, three. And he’s not talking about being broke—one bankruptcy scare came when he actually had money in the bank.

“We didn’t grow up with financial education passed down like wealth was,” John said. “I didn’t have the playbook.”

This is why he’s now obsessed with fixing the system. Check the data: 65% of pro athletes and lottery winners go broke within 3 years of their windfall. People blame them for “blowing it,” but John flips the script—they were the best in the world at their craft. They just weren’t taught money management. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” he said.

Now he’s building “Little Daymond Learns to Earn” to rewire how schools teach kids about money. Not just a book—a movement to make financial intelligence mainstream.

The lesson? Whether you’re grinding from $40 like he did with FUBU or already sitting on millions, financial literacy beats natural talent every single time.