Leslie C. Brown was born on February 17, 1945, in an abandoned building on a floor in Liberty City, a low-income section of Miami, Florida, and adopted at six weeks of age by Mrs. Mamie Brown, a 38 year old single woman, cafeteria cook and domestic worker, who had very little education or financial means, but a very big heart and the desire to care for Les Brown and his twin brother, Wesley Brown. Les Brown calls himself "Mrs. Mamie Brown's Baby Boy" and claims "All that I am and all that I ever hoped to be, I owe to my mother".

In the fifth grade, Les Brown was mistakenly declared "educably mentally retarded" and placed back in the fourth grade and later failed the eight grade, due to his inattention to school work, his restless energy, and his teachers' failure to recognize his true potential. He was referred to as "D .T." for "Dumb Twin". The label and stigma severely damaged his self-esteem for many years. Mamie Brown's belief in her son's ability to achieve whatever he set his mind to achieving made a difference in his life. "Her strength and character are my greatest inspiration, always have been and always will be."

Les Brown’s determination and persistence searching for ways to help Mamie Brown overcome poverty and his philosophy “do whatever it takes to achieve success” led him to become a distinguished authority on harnessing human potential and success. Les Brown's passion to learn and his hunger to realize greatness in himself and others helped him to achieve greatness in spite of not having formal education or training beyond high school.

He won the Council of Peers Award of Excellence from the National Speakers Association in 1987, its highest honor. Toastmasters international also recognized him as one of the World's Top Five Speakers for 1992.

As a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a "high energy message" which tells people how to "shake off mediocrity" and "live up to their greatness." It is a message Les Brown "learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives." Les Brown was invited to share this message in 2004 at The First Cathedral.

In May 2008, Les teamed up with Kerry McCreary of Ardmore PC and kicked off his new radio station, WLBR Radio. The station currently streams excerpts of Les' products and smooth jazz. By the end of 2008, WLBR will feature Les and other motivational speakers with live talk shows and interviews.

He is now one of the many teachers offering online courses at Success University.

He currently resides in Chicago.