Sara Blakely net worth sits at about $1.36 billion, according to the Forbes real-time tracker on September 22, 2026. That number is an estimate built on the value of a private company, and no filing or audited statement confirms it.
Key facts: Sara Blakely net worth at a glance
| Reported net worth | $1.36 billion (Forbes estimate, Sept. 2026) |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sara Treleaven Blakely |
| Born | February 27, 1971, Clearwater, Florida |
| Education | Florida State University, communication degree |
| Primary income source | Minority equity stake in Spanx |
| Marital status | Married to Jesse Itzler since 2008; four children |
How much is Sara Blakely worth, and what sits inside the number
Forbes builds the estimate mostly from Blakely’s remaining Spanx equity. Smaller pieces include a minority stake in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and real estate that Forbes put at nearly $40 million in 2021.
The Spanx piece is the hard part. Neither Blackstone nor Blakely has published the ownership split, and Forbes wrote in 2021 that the retained stake could be as high as 49%.
That gap explains the spread in outside numbers. Aggregator sites checked for this article range from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion, and nobody quoting a figure on Reddit or elsewhere has seen Spanx’s books either.
Sara Blakely net worth from 2012 to 2026
Forbes first listed Blakely as a billionaire in 2012, at age 41, as the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. The fortune has not moved in a straight line since.
Sara Blakely’s estimated net worth by year
Billions of U.S. dollars, selected published estimates
The Sara Blakely net worth 2025 figure of $1.3 billion comes from a Fortune profile that September. By June 2026, Forbes had Blakely at $1.4 billion and No. 29 on its list of America’s richest self-made women.
What happened to Sara Blakely’s fortune in 2020
Blakely dropped off the Forbes billionaires ranking in 2020. U.S. shapewear sales fell 23% between July 2019 and July 2020, according to NPD Group, as weddings and galas were cancelled.
Competition added pressure. Kim Kardashian’s Skims arrived in September 2019 and reportedly booked $145 million in revenue during 2020.
By June 2021, Forbes valued Spanx at $540 million and Blakely at $750 million. DealBook sources put Spanx revenue at $300 million to $400 million, barely above the roughly $250 million of 2012.
The Blackstone deal behind Sara Blakely’s billionaire status
On October 20, 2021, Blackstone agreed to buy a majority of Spanx at a $1.2 billion valuation. The official announcement said Blakely would keep a “significant equity stake” and chair an all-female board.
Spanx used Goldman Sachs and Allen & Co. as advisers. The price paid for Blackstone’s majority was not disclosed, so the cash Blakely took out of the deal is unknown.
Days later, Blakely gave every Spanx employee two first-class plane tickets and $10,000 to spend on the trip, a moment NPR covered after the video spread online.
Spanx’s value vs. Sara Blakely’s personal fortune
Company valuations and personal net worth are often mixed up
Sneex and Sara Blakely’s other holdings
In August 2024, Blakely launched Sneex, a line of high-heeled sneakers priced from $395. Back in 2013, Blakely had named designing the world’s most comfortable high heel as a goal before retirement.
Sneex sales are private, and Forbes has not assigned the brand a separate value. Any dollar figure attached to Sneex online is a guess.
In 2015, Blakely and Jesse Itzler joined a group led by Tony Ressler that bought the Atlanta Hawks for $850 million. The couple’s share of that group has not been made public.
Sara Blakely today: age, family and Atlanta home
Who is Sara Blakely? An inventor born on February 27, 1971, in Clearwater, Florida, which makes Sara Blakely 55 in 2026.
After a communication degree at Florida State University, Blakely spent three months at Walt Disney World, then sold fax machines door to door for Danka. The $5,000 that started Spanx came from those savings.
Is Sara Blakely married? Yes. Blakely married Jesse Itzler, co-founder of the private jet company Marquis Jet, in 2008, and the couple has four children.
Where does Sara Blakely live now? Forbes lists the residence as Atlanta, where Spanx is based. No separate value for the family’s house has been published beyond Forbes’ 2021 real estate figure.
Where is Sara Blakely now in business terms? Still holding the Spanx stake, running Sneex, and back at Florida State in May 2026 to give the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate.
How much Sara Blakely has pledged to charity
In 2013, Blakely became the first female billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, a promise to give away at least half of one’s wealth.
Earlier gifts include $1 million to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2006. In 2020, Blakely pledged $5 million to female-run small businesses hit by the pandemic.
Sara Blakely net worth FAQ
What is Sara Blakely net worth in 2026?
Forbes estimated Sara Blakely net worth 2026 at $1.36 billion on September 22. The figure moves with Forbes’ view of what private Spanx is worth.
Does Sara Blakely still own Spanx?
Blakely owns a minority stake. Blackstone has held the majority since 2021, and the exact split has never been disclosed.
What does Reddit say about Sara Blakely’s net worth?
Reddit users have no inside view of Spanx’s finances, so any Sara Blakely net worth Reddit figure is secondhand. The Forbes estimate is the better reference, with the caveats above.
What is Sara Blakely doing now?
Blakely is building Sneex, launched in August 2024, while keeping a minority stake in Spanx.
Who is Sara Blakely’s husband?
Jesse Itzler, an entrepreneur who co-founded Marquis Jet, which NetJets bought in 2010 for an undisclosed sum. Blakely and Itzler married in 2008.
