Marcus Lemonis

Lemonis was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Abdelmasih and Nadia, who were from Baniyas, Syria, during the Lebanese Civil War.{{cite web |url=https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2019/04/profit-my-roots-review/|title=On The Profit: My Roots, Marcus Lemonis learns more than his birth name in Lebanon|date=9 April 2019|author=Andy Dehnart|author-link=Andy Dehnart|website=Reality Blurred}}

He was given the name Ricardo but was abandoned at an orphanage four days after his birth. He was adopted during his infancy on July 29, 1974, by Leo and Sophia Lemonis, a couple living in Miami, Florida.{{cite web|last1=Kim|first1=Jae-Hae|title=Go away with Marcus Lemonis|date=30 September 2013 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/sns-celeb-travel-go-away-with-marcus-lemonis-20130930-story.html|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=14 November 2014}} His adoptive father was Greek, and his adoptive mother was Lebanese.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Throughout his upbringing, Lemonis was exposed to the automotive industry, with his great uncle (Anthony Abraham) owning two of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the United States. Family friend Lee Iacocca mentored Lemonis and invested millions to help him start a recreational vehicle business.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Lemonis graduated in 1991 from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami-Dade County, Florida. In 1995, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in criminology, from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He 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.

Lemonis, appearing on the ballot as Marc Anthony Lemonis, lost to two-term Republican incumbent Bruno Barreiro, 42.44 percent to 57.56 percent.{{cite web |title=General, Nonpartisan and Special Elections: Dade County, Florida |date=November 5, 1996 |url=http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/results/ele96310/nov596.txt |access-date=August 7, 2016}} The Miami Herald called Lemonis, a Democrat, a "political neophyte" but endorsed him because "he exudes energy and ideas."{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&p_theme=mh&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=%22marc%20anthony%20lemonis%22&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22marc%20anthony%20lemonis%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|title=Miami Herald Archive Search Results|date=6 November 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808202756/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&p_theme=mh&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=%22marc%20anthony%20lemonis%22&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22marc%20anthony%20lemonis%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|via=Newsbank|publisher=The Miami Herald|archive-date=8 August 2018}}

Lemonis worked for his great uncle's car dealership in South Florida, Anthony Abraham Chevrolet. That dealership was acquired by AutoNation in 1997, and Lemonis subsequently held several sales and managerial roles under the new ownership.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20051117/PAGES/1849/40-under-40-2005 |title=40 Under 40 2005 |publisher=Crain's Chicago Business |date=2013-02-08 |access-date=2013-08-03}} A family friend, Lee Iacocca approached Lemonis and told him he wanted to "Create the largest RV chain" as the RV business model in the United States was "fractured". Iacocca helped Lemonis start and acquire Holiday RV Superstores. From June 2001 to February 2003 he served as CEO of Holiday RV Superstores Inc. Following that, he co-founded a company called FreedomRoads and began acquiring RV dealerships.{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=10946756 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223162114/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=10946756 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 23, 2008 |title=FreedomRoads, LLC: Private Company Information - Businessweek |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=2013-08-03}} In 2006, the company merged with Camping World with Lemonis as CEO, and then, in 2011, merged with Good Sam Enterprises, with Lemonis again at the helm.{{cite web |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/07/who-is-marcus-lemonis-1.html |title=Who is Marcus Lemonis? - Zap2it |publisher=Zap2it |date=2013-07-26 |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803062547/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/07/who-is-marcus-lemonis-1.html |archive-date=2013-08-03 |url-status=dead }}

As the CEO of Camping World, Lemonis sponsored NASCAR driver John Andretti in 2004. In 2007, Lemonis and Camping World announced they were taking over sponsorship of the NASCAR East Series from Busch Beer for the 2008–2009 seasons, rebranding it the NASCAR Camping World Series. Later that same year, they also announced sponsorship of the then Craftsman Truck Series, rebranding it the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, making the company one of the sport's top three sponsors.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/07/20/NASCARs-hottest-drivers-and-the-companies-that-sponsor-them.html |title=NASCAR's hottest drivers and the companies that sponsor them |website=CNBC |date=20 July 2013 |access-date=2014-06-23}} They renewed their sponsorship in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/5/5/nascar-camping-world-truck-series-marcus-lemonis-extension-long-haul.html |title=LEMONIS: CAMPING WORLD IN NASCAR FOR LONG HAUL |access-date=2014-06-23}}

Crain's Chicago Business featured him in their 2005 edition of "40 under 40";{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20051117/PAGES/1849/40-under-40-2005 |title=40 under 40 2005|first1=Mark|last1=Scheffler|date=17 November 2005|access-date=2013-12-08}} and in 2008, Ernst & Young named him "Entrepreneur of the Year".{{cite web|access-date=2013-12-08|date=2008-06-30|title=Lemonis Recognized with Ernst & Young Award|url=http://www.rvbusiness.com/2008/06/lemonis-recognized-with-ernst-young-award/|first1=Sherman|last1=Goldenberg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724072457/http://www.rvbusiness.com/2008/06/lemonis-recognized-with-ernst-young-award/|archive-date=2015-07-24|url-status=dead}}

In October 2016, Camping World went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CWH) at $22 a share, giving the company a market value of approximately $2 billion. As of October 31, 2024, Camping World was trading at $20.06 per share.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/06/camping-world-holdings-raises-251-million-in-ipo.html|title=Camping World Holdings rises 3% after IPO|first=Anita|last=Balakrishnan|date=October 7, 2016|website=CNBC}}

In April 2017, Camping World announced the acquisition of the assets of Gander Mountain, a camping, fishing and hunting gear retailer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20170501/camping-world-acquires-gander-mountain-assets-in-auction|title=Camping World acquires Gander Mountain assets in auction|date=May 1, 2017|website=Daily Herald}}

In July 2017, Camping World announced the acquisition of The House Boardshop, an online retailer specializing in bikes, sailboards, skateboards, wakeboards, snowboards and outdoor gear.{{Cite press release|url=https://investor.campingworld.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/Camping-World-Agrees-to-Acquire-TheHousecom-one-of-the-Largest-Outdoor-Gear-Retailers-in-the-World/default.aspx|title=Camping World Agrees to Acquire TheHouse.com, one of the Largest Outdoor Gear Retailers in the World|via=BusinessWire|author=Camping World Holdings, Inc.|date=27 July 2017}}

Lemonis appeared on two episodes of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.{{cite web|title=All-Star Celebrity Apprentice|access-date=2013-12-08|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/}} In 2012, Lemonis appeared on an episode of ABC's Secret Millionaire,{{cite web|title=Marcus Lemonis: Miami|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/secret-millionaire/blogs/news/marcus-lemonis-miami|date=2013-06-25|access-date=2013-12-08}} returning to his hometown of Miami to help local charities.

In 2013, Lemonis starred in the CNBC reality show The Profit,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/the-profit/|title=The Profit – Home|website=CNBC|date=11 August 2016}} which follows his efforts to turn around struggling small businesses. In the show, Lemonis invests his own money for part ownership in the businesses to make them profitable.

In 2017, 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.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/the-profit-host-mark-lemonis-to-star-in-spinoff-the-partner-cnbc-tca-1201682871/|title='The Profit' Host Marcus Lemonis To Star In CNBC Spinoff, 'The Partner' – TCA|publisher=Deadline|first=Lisa|last=de Moraes|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=January 15, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/14/cnbc-greenlights-cleveland-hustles-with-nba-superstar-lebron-james-and-the-partner-with-marcus-lemonis.html|title=CNBC Greenlights 'Cleveland Hustles' with NBA Superstar LeBron James and 'The Partner' with Marcus Lemonis|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=January 15, 2016|work=CNBC}}

In August 2021, NBCUniversal, Machete, and Lemonis were accused of harmful business practices by over 50 small businesses that appeared on The Profit.{{cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/cnbc-the-profit-host-stole-dozens-of-businesses-ip-suit-says|title=CNBC The Profit Host Alleged to Take Dozens of Companies IP|date=24 Aug 2021|author=Samantha Handler|website=BloombergLaw}}

In 2021, it was announced that Lemonis and Nancy Glass had acquired the rights of the game show Let's Make a Deal.{{cite web|title='Let's Make A Deal': Marcus Lemonis & Nancy Glass Acquire IP Rights To Classic Gameshow, Bring In Sharon Hall To Consult|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/lets-make-a-deal-marcus-lemonis-nancy-glass-acquire-ip-rights-classic-gameshow-sharon-hall-1234812019/|website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Peter|last=White|date=August 10, 2021}}

In 2022, it was announced that Lemonis would star in a new HGTV show called The Renovator.{{cite web |last1=Croslin |first1=Bob |title=New Series 'The Renovator' Comes to HGTV |url=https://www.hgtv.com/shows/the-renovator/articles/new-series-the-renovator-comes-to-hgtv |website=HGTV |access-date=15 November 2022}} The show debuted on October 11, 2022, and two episodes aired before it entered a hiatus.{{cite web |last1=Lane |first1=Liv |title=HGTV Pulls New Show 'The Renovator' After Only Airing 2 Episodes |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/hgtv/renovator-show-pulled-marcus-lemonis/ |website=Heavy.com |date=October 25, 2022}}

Lemonis founded the Lemon-AID Foundation in 2020. The foundation supports women and minority entrepreneurs as well as small businesses. Lemonis also founded the Business Learning Center, a virtual platform for resources and business tools for those struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/cnbc-s-lemonis-launches-lemon-aid-foundation|title=CNBC's Lemonis Launches Lemon-AID Foundation|date=October 2020}}

Lemonis’s foundation launched 'Plating Change,' an initiative to fight food insecurity in partnership with Grubhub and World Central Kitchen.{{cite web|title=Marcus Lemonis Charity Takes the Lead in Anti Hunger Fight|date=18 November 2020 |url=https://rv-pro.com/news/marcus-lemonis-charity-takes-the-lead-in-anti-hunger-fight}}

Lemonis has donated to his alma maters, including Christopher Columbus High School{{cite web|url=https://www.columbushs.com/new-building|title=Center for Science and the Arts|date=2016}} and $15Μ to Marquette University.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-26 |title=Alumnus Marcus Lemonis donates $15 million to create Lemonis Center for Student Success |url=https://today.marquette.edu/2022/02/alumnus-marcus-lemonis-donates-15-million-to-create-lemonis-center-for-student-success/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Marquette Today |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://marquettewire.org/3942945/republican-national-convention/over-400000-raised-by-one-million-dollar-challenge-so-far|title=Over 400,000 raised by One Million Dollar Challenge| date=February 11, 2016|author=Slattery Lydia}} He has supported the Joffrey Ballet Bridge Program in the Chicago public school system.{{cite web|author=Christina Mancuso|date=August 2013|title=Marcus Lemonis CEO of Camping World Makes Major Donation to Joffrey Ballets Bridge Program|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/Marcus-Lemonis-CEO-of-Camping-World-Makes-Major-Donation-to-Joffrey-Ballets-Bridge-Program-20130807}} In 2016–17, Lemonis launched a matching campaign to support the sports program at University of Miami.{{cite web|date=December 2016|title=UM and Marcus Lemonis Announce Match Marcus Campaign|url= https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2016/12/28/211379090-2/}} After the 2020 Nashville bombing on Christmas Day, Lemonis established a fund to support the business owners affected by the event.{{cite web|author=Cameron Taylor|date=December 2020|title=CNBC personality sets up fund for business owners affected by blast|url=https://www.wsmv.com/nashville_bombing/cnbc-personality-sets-up-fund-for-business-owners-affected-by-blast/article_e57b3a9e-4afc-11eb-a36a-075077c4b150.html}} In 2021 Lemonis gave $3.1 million to the staff of Christopher Columbus High School ($18,000 to each staff member).{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article256436921.html|author= Tavel, Jimena|title=Marcus Lemonis' Gift Shocks Alma Mater's Staff|website= Miami Herald|date=9 December 2021}}

In November 2021, Pamela Perry sued{{Cite web|date=2021-11-19|title='Let the judge decide' says woman suing over rewards offered after Christmas morning bombing|url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/let-the-judge-decide-says-woman-suing-over-rewards-offered-after-christmas-morning-bombing|access-date=2021-12-18|website=WTVF|language=en}} Camping World, Inc. and Lemonis for Breach of Contract, after defendants made a "promise to the citizens of Nashville for information identifying" the bomber in the 2020 Nashville Christmas bombing but refused to pay. A spokesman for Lemonis replied that the reward offered was for information leading to the "capture and conviction" of the person responsible for (and killed in) the bombing.

Lemonis married Roberta "Bobbi" Raffel in 2018{{cite news |last1=Petit |first1=Stephanie |title=Marcus Lemonis Is Married! The Profit Star Opens Up About His Wedding Day: 'I Cried' |url=https://people.com/tv/marcus-lemonis-confirm-marriage-bobbi-raffel/ |access-date=13 January 2019 |agency=People |publisher=Meredith Corporation |date=22 February 2018}} and lives in Lake Forest, Illinois.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/reality-tv-star-marcus-lemonis-buys-next-door-his-lake-forest-mansion|title=Reality TV star Marcus Lemonis buys next door to his Lake Forest mansion|date=October 16, 2018|website=Crain's Chicago Business}}

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{{Commons category|Marcus Lemonis}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1973 births

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:American chairpersons of corporations

Category:American retail chief executives

Category:Marquette University alumni

Category:Lebanese emigrants to the United States

Category:American people of Syrian descent

Category:Lebanese people of Syrian descent

Category:Businesspeople from Miami

Category:Florida Democrats

Category:Candidates in the 1998 United States elections

Category:Christopher Columbus High School (Miami-Dade County, Florida) alumni