Lemonis was born as Ricardo in Beirut, Lebanon, during the chaos of civil war and foreign invasions, to parents Abdallel (from Lebanon) and Nadia (from Baniyas, Syria) and was abandoned at an orphanage 4 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. His adoptive father was Greek, his adoptive mother was Lebanese. \n', '

Lemonis was exposed to the automotive industry throughout his upbringing, his grandfather, Anthony Abraham owning two of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the United States and Lee Iacocca serving as a family friend and later mentor and financial investor to Marcus, loaning him millions to start a recreational vehicle business. Lemonis earned a bachelor\'s degree in political science and a minor in criminology from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1995, and 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.\n', '

Lemonis, appearing on the ballot as Marc Anthony Lemonis, lost to two-term Republican incumbent Bruno Barreiro, 42.44 percent to 57.56 percent, despite being endorsed by the Miami Herald. The Miami Herald called Lemonis, a Democrat, a "political neophyte" but endorsed him because "he exudes energy and ideas."\n', '

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