Sara Blakely built a billion-dollar company out of a simple problem and five thousand dollars in savings. The founder of Spanx turned an idea she had while getting dressed into a brand that created an entire category, and along the way she became, in 2012, the youngest self-made female billionaire on the Forbes list.
Before the idea
Blakely earned a communications degree from Florida State University and spent seven years selling fax machines door to door, an experience she credits with teaching her how to handle rejection and keep going. The idea that changed her life was almost accidental. Wanting a smoother look under a pair of white pants, she cut the feet off a pair of control-top pantyhose, and recognized a product that did not yet exist.
Building Spanx
She launched Spanx in 2000 with five thousand dollars, wrote her own patent application to save money, and personally pitched buyers and retailers. An early break came when Oprah Winfrey featured the product, and the brand grew into a global name synonymous with modern shapewear. In 2021, the investment firm Blackstone acquired a majority stake in a deal that valued Spanx at 1.2 billion dollars. Blakely served as chief executive until that point and afterward moved into the role of executive chairwoman while retaining a significant ownership stake.
A new venture and a wider mission
In 2024, Blakely returned to her inventor roots with Sneex, a footwear brand built around what the company calls a hybrid heel, combining the style of a high heel with the comfort of a sneaker. Beyond business, she has become a prominent advocate for women entrepreneurs, giving away millions through her Red Backpack Foundation. She has been named to the TIME 100 list of influential people and inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Blakely’s self-made path echoes the stories of other founders and investors who built lasting value from the ground up, from NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang to investing legend Warren Buffett. See more entrepreneurs in our Founder section, and additional detail at her Forbes profile.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sara Blakely?
Sara Blakely is the founder of the shapewear brand Spanx and the footwear brand Sneex. She became the youngest self-made female billionaire on the Forbes list in 2012.
How did Sara Blakely start Spanx?
She launched Spanx in 2000 with five thousand dollars in savings after cutting the feet off a pair of pantyhose to create a smoother look under white pants. She built the brand into a company later valued at 1.2 billion dollars.
What is Sneex?
Sneex is a footwear brand Blakely launched in 2024. It combines the design of a high heel with the comfort of a sneaker, which the company calls a hybrid heel.
