18 Facts About Marcus Lemonis

Marcus Anthony Lemonis was born on November 16,1973 and is a Lebanese-American businessman, TV personality, and philanthropist.

Marcus Lemonis serves as the chairman and CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises, and Beyond.

Marcus Lemonis was given the name Ricardo but was abandoned at an orphanage four days after his birth.

Marcus Lemonis was adopted during his infancy on July 29,1974, by Leo and Sophia Lemonis, a couple living in Miami, Florida.

Family friend Lee Iacocca mentored Marcus Lemonis and invested millions to help him start a recreational vehicle business.

Marcus Lemonis graduated in 1991 from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Marcus Lemonis unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives shortly after his graduation, whereupon he refocused his career on the automotive industry.

Marcus Lemonis, appearing on the ballot as Marc Anthony Marcus Lemonis, lost to two-term Republican incumbent Bruno Barreiro, 42.44 percent to 57.56 percent.

Marcus Lemonis worked for his great uncle's car dealership in South Florida, Anthony Abraham Chevrolet.

That dealership was acquired by AutoNation in 1997, and Marcus Lemonis subsequently held several sales and managerial roles under the new ownership.

In 2012, Marcus Lemonis appeared on an episode of ABC's Secret Millionaire, returning to his hometown of Miami to help local charities.

In 2013, Marcus Lemonis starred in the CNBC reality show The Profit, which follows his efforts to turn around struggling small businesses.

In 2017, Marcus Lemonis starred in, and co-produced, the CNBC program The Partner, in which he searches for a business manager to assist him with running the businesses that he invests in on The Profit.

Marcus Lemonis founded the Business Learning Center, a virtual platform for resources and business tools for those struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcus Lemonis's foundation launched 'Plating Change,' an initiative to fight food insecurity in partnership with Grubhub and World Central Kitchen.

Marcus Lemonis has supported the Joffrey Ballet Bridge Program in the Chicago public school system.

In 2021 Marcus Lemonis gave $3.1 million to the staff of Christopher Columbus High School.

Marcus Lemonis married Roberta "Bobbi" Raffel in 2018 and lives in Lake Forest, Illinois.