Sara Treleaven Blakely is an American businesswoman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Spanx, the global apparel and shapewear brand. Her career is rooted in sales, entrepreneurial audacity, and brand disruption.

Blakely holds a B.A. in Communications from Florida State University. Her philosophical approach centers on creative disruption, brand authenticity, and long-term commitment to female empowerment (pioneering the modern shapewear category). The idea for Spanx began in 1998 when she was a fax machine saleswoman and cut the feet off her pantyhose to get a smooth fit under white pants.

• Spanx (Founder & Executive Chairwoman): The core private asset, the global leader in shapewear, apparel, and activewear. (Sold a majority stake to Blackstone in 2021 for a $1.2 billion valuation).
• Brand Pioneer: Her success is built on scale retail and dominating the market for innovative, comfortable shapewear (a massive disruption to traditional intimate apparel).
• Investment Strategy: Her philosophy is rooted in long-term brand IP hold and leveraging the massive global growth of the body-positive and comfortable apparel market.
• Early Struggles: She funded the company with $5,000 in personal savings and wrote her own patent.

Sara Blakely's strategic genius was her commitment to product innovation and grassroots marketing. She founded Spanx in 1998, using $5,000 in personal savings, and secured her first major break when her product was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2000 (an endorsement that launched the brand globally). Her structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern shapewear category and transforming the intimate apparel sector.

The pinnacle of her financial career was the sale of a majority stake in Spanx to Blackstone in 2021, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. She remains Executive Chairwoman, guiding the brand's creative vision. Her wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the Blackstone acquisition and her long-term private investments.

Sara Blakely's social impact stems from Spanx's role as a massive global employer and leader in the apparel industry. The Sara Blakely Foundation supports women's empowerment, entrepreneurship, and education globally, providing crucial funding for female founders and organizations. Her life story inspires millions of women entrepreneurs worldwide.

Her personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Sara Blakely maintains the professional, high-energy style of a corporate executive. Her attire is consistently high-quality, favoring business chic and tailored separates. Her aesthetic reflects creative vision, stability, and her personal brand of female empowerment.

Residing in Atlanta, Georgia, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to brand management, strategic investment, and philanthropy.