34. Joy Mangano

Joy Mangano took the plunge into mop business 25 years ago and hasn’t looked back since—expanding her empire with new inventions throughout the years and serving as an inspiration for female entrepreneurs everywhere. Mangano’s meteoric rise from single mother of three to inventor started with her famed Miracle Mop, which received superlatives for making wringing a cinch. Mangano, who was born in Huntington and earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Pace University, eventually took the product to TV retailer QVC, and sales soared, with millions of mops sold through the years. She then sold the company to HSN but stayed on as president. Mangano is now a leader in the industry, designing easy-to-use products that make everyday household chores easier to accomplish. Her product line now also includes pillows, hangers, home fragrances, beauty cases, and more. Mangano’s career is the subject of the film Joy, starring Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, plus Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper. As if all this wasn’t enough, Mangano has brought her genius business talents to the realm of fine dining, as the owner of Huntington hotspot Porto Vivo—serving rustic-yet-modern gourmet Italian at affordable prices, with an emphasis on high-quality meals, superior service, and beautiful decor.