Lori Greiner was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong work ethic and a passion for creating and inventing. While details about her early childhood are relatively private, it's clear that her Midwest roots played a significant role in shaping her down-to-earth personality and practical approach to business.

Lori attended Loyola University Chicago, where she studied communications, focusing on journalism, film, and television. During this time, she also designed and patented an earring organizer, which would become her first product and the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey. She used a $300,000 loan to get it off the ground.