Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (2024)

If you've ever wondered how well the billionaires do on their Shark Tank investments, US business mogul Mark Cuban may have just scratched your itch.

Turns out, after investing nearly $28 million in 85 start-ups on the popular television show, Cuban has made nothing.

That's right, nada.

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (1)

"I've gotten beat," is how Cuban straight up described it on the Full Send podcast.

With an estimated net worth of $6.8 billion, Cuban can absorb his fair share of misses, and so the owner of NBA franchise the Dallas Mavericks was in good humour when discussing the ups and downs of his Shark Tank adventures.

Cuban revealed his biggest loss was a $US 1 million investment on a fledgling start-up called Breathometer.

Pitched by founder Charles Michael Yim, Breathometer was touted as the world's first smartphone breathalyser.

By blowing into a plastic device clipped into a smartphone, Yim claimed, the device would generate an accurate blood alcohol reading which could then prompt an over-the-limit driver to call a taxi.

"It was a great idea, and actually a decent product," Cuban recalled.

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (2)

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Cuban detailed how Yim seemed to take his eyes off the prize, instead of pouring all his effort into making the start-up a success.

"I'd look at his Instagram and he'd be in Bora Bora," Cuban said.

"Two weeks later and he'd be in Vegas partying.

"Then he'd be on Necker Island with Richard Branson."

Cuban said he'd text Yim, saying: "What the f--- are you doing? You're supposed to be working."

Yim, Cuban said, would reply and say he was busy "networking".

"Next thing you know, all the money is gone," Cuban said.

"That was my biggest beating."

Cuban said "there is no point" trying to heap pressure on founders who don't want to dig in for themselves.

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (3)

After the podcast aired, Cuban contacted CNBC to clarify his zero profit comments did not take into account the promising Shark Tank investments he had yet to exit from.

"I haven't gotten out more than I have put in," he wrote in an email.

"But that doesn't account for all the ongoing, operating businesses and their valuations."

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (4)

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Yim, too, had some clarifications of his own, saying Cuban had portrayed him unfairly.

The trip to visit Branson on Necker had been a pitch, Yim told CNBC, not just pleasure.

"You can't look at someone's social media and take it for face value," Yim said.

"That's not how social media works."

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments (2024)

FAQs

Mark Cuban says he's made zero profit from 'Shark Tank' investments? ›

Turns out, after investing nearly $28 million in 85 start-ups on the popular television show, Cuban has made nothing.

Have Shark Tank investors lost money? ›

The failure rates of Shark Tank participants, however, are significantly lower. In the last few seasons (5 to 9), only 6% of the participants are out of business, and only 20% aren't making a profit (but are still operating). We could therefore say that Shark Tank's success rate is around 94%.

Who turned down $30 million on Shark Tank? ›

"Shark Tank" has been home to a number of record-breaking moments, but few compare to a mind-blowing Season 6 memory.

Do the Sharks on Shark Tank make money on their investments? ›

It's not because her friends and strangers on the street have unrealistic business ideas, Corcoran recently told Barstool's “Chicks in the Office” podcast. Rather, it's because only one in every 10 of her “Shark Tank” investments actually earns a profit, she said.

What successful companies failed Shark Tank? ›

5 'Shark Tank' Fails That Cost Big Money
  • Amazon. Breathometer. The Breathometer sounded too good to be true, and maybe it was. ...
  • Sweet Ballz. Sweet Ballz. Everyone loves cake, even investors. ...
  • Amazon. Show No Towels. ...
  • eclipse_images / Getty Images. Toygaroo.
Mar 14, 2023

Who is the brokest shark on Shark Tank? ›

Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, syndicated columnist, and television personality.

Why don t Shark Tank deals go through? ›

Usually, it's the Founder's fault. 90% of the deals fall through because the Founders believed the conditions weren't good for their business even though they took the deal on TV. Then, some deals have taken so long to negotiate that the episode has already aired.

Has any Shark Tank deals failed? ›

Body Jac

Sharks Kevin Harrington and Barbara Corcoran immediately saw potential in his exercise machine and invested a combined $180,000 in the company. But somewhere along the way, things went awry. The Body Jac website mysteriously shut down in 2012, and Corcoran now calls this her worst deal to date.

What was the biggest offer on Shark Tank history? ›

10 Impressed with the presentation and the product, Mark Cuban made the largest offer in the show's history—$30 million to buy the entire company. Not wanting to walk away from the company, the sisters quickly decided to leave the show with no deal.

Who is the most successful Shark Tank investor? ›

Mark Cuban is one of the richest people in the US with a net worth of US$4.6 billion, according to Forbes. The Dallas Mavericks NBA team owner has grown his fortune from investing in Shark Tank projects after he joined the series as a guest in season two.

Who is the richest shark investor? ›

Mark Cuban - $5 billion (estimated 2023)

Mark Cuban is without a doubt the wealthiest shark on Shark Tank. He is, by a wide margin, significantly wealthier than everyone else on this list. He worked hard and paid close attention to every detail as he built his fortune and empire.

How much does Kevin o leary make on Shark Tank? ›

Since he has amassed such a large fortune, you may be curious about Kevin O'Leary's yearly salary. He averages $30,000 for every episode of Shark Tank, and there are typically 24 episodes per year. Altogether, this amounts to around $720,000 from the program.

Who owns Shark Tank? ›

Production. Shark Tank is produced by Mark Burnett and based on the format Dragons' Den, which originated in 2001 with the Japanese show, Tigers of Money.

Did Barbara Corcoran leave Shark Tank? ›

After 14 years on the show it might be impossible for viewers to imagine Shark Tank without Barbara Corcoran. Yet when the series was in its early stages of production the real estate mogul was dropped from the line-up for the only female-occupied seat on the panel.

How scripted is Shark Tank? ›

Yes, Shark Tank is a real television show that features entrepreneurs who pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful business executives, known as "sharks," in the hopes of securing an investment in exchange for a percentage of their company. "Shark Tank" is an adapted television show.

Who is the least successful shark? ›

Worst: Kevin Harrington

He appeared in only the first two seasons before walking away. Perhaps he didn't believe the show could be a major success. Or perhaps he was just too busy. He also made deals with 18 entrepreneurs across the two seasons but only invested in 16% of the businesses.

Which shark has invested the most? ›

In all, about Rs 50.3 crore has been invested across start-up deals in the reality show. In the previous season of Shark Tank as well, Thapar invested roughly Rs 10 crore across 25 deals, the highest among all sharks. Her net worth according to the Shark Tank website is around $82 million.

Has a shark ever bought a company on Shark Tank? ›

Mark Cuban did something that no one's ever done on "Shark Tank" before: On the show, he made a deal not to invest in a company, but buy it outright. The deal to buy struggling novelty sticker company evREwares for $200,000 made for great drama for the show's viewers, but it turns out the deal never went through.

Who rejected Shark Tank offer? ›

(Vineeta Singh was the only shark that opted out of the deal, citing conflict of interest.)

How do the Sharks get their money back? ›

A royalty payment is generally defined as a percentage of sales, or a fixed dollar amount per unit sold. Either way, the royalty might have no defined end. Repayment is based on actual sales: sell more units faster, and the Shark gets their money back sooner; sell nothing and the Shark is left with no returns.

What is the biggest company Shark Tank rejected? ›

One of the most notorious (and successful) Shark Tank rejects started as a video doorbell name Doorbot. After a famously tepid reaction from the sharks, Amazon later bought the company for a deal worth nearly $1 billion. By early 2018, the company introduced a smart home doorbell dubbed Ring.

What percent of Shark Tank deals actually happen? ›

The goal of entrepreneurs going on Shark Tank is to make a deal and see it close. But if it falls apart, it's not always a tragedy. About 87% of the businesses we spoke to that didn't get deals are still operating. The remainder have shuttered, were acquired or sold.

How much did Lori make on Squatty Potty? ›

Lori Greiner owns 20%, giving her an estimated $9 million stake. Squatty Potty. This bathroom toilet bench helps people's stool move faster. Greiner owns 10% of the company, with $222 million in revenue since she first invested in it.

How much has Mark Cuban made from Shark Tank? ›

Turns out, after investing nearly $28 million in 85 start-ups on the popular television show, Cuban has made nothing.

How much did Mark Cuban make off GrooveBook? ›

Cuban and O'Leary made a deal with the Whitemans at $150,000 for 80% of the licensing rights of GrooveBook. The Whitemans walked in looking for $150,000 for 20% ownership of the entire operation. When the sharks asked how much it costs to make the book, they said it costs $2.30 to make and ship each book.

Who is the smartest entrepreneur in Shark Tank? ›

Mark Cuban is a smart guy.

Who is the most successful investor alive? ›

The story of the top 5 richest investors in the world
  • Warren Buffett. Net worth: $103 Billion. Founder & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. ...
  • Jim Simons. Net worth: $28.6 Billion. Founder of RenTech, a quantitative hedge fund. ...
  • Ken Griffin. Net worth: $27 Billion. ...
  • Ray Dalio. Net worth: $22 Billion. ...
  • Carl Icahn. Net worth: $17.5 Billion.
Apr 17, 2023

Who is the richest guest on Shark Tank? ›

1. Richard Branson. Branson founded the Virgin company which started as a mail-order record company and then turned into a record label that welcomed punk and new wave acts. Virgin later went on to become a conglomerate with over 100 companies by 1990.

How did Lori Greiner get rich? ›

Lori Greiner has made her millions by creating and selling more than 1,000 products, including some of the most popular jewelry and cosmetic organizers of all time. Her products have been sold on QVC and by retailers across the world.

Where did Mark Cuban get his money? ›

Mark Cuban founded video portal Broadcast.com with fellow Indiana University alum Todd Wagner in 1995 and sold it to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999. Today he owns the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and is cofounder of Cost Plus Drugs, which he launched in January 2022 with the aim of lowering prescription drug prices.

How many companies does Mark Cuban own? ›

12 Companies Mark Cuban Has Invested In.

Do Shark Tank participants get paid? ›

You don't get paid to appear on the show.

The only way to walk out of Shark Tank with some money is through a deal. If an entrepreneur doesn't score an offer, they go home empty-handed.

What happened to Kevin on Shark Tank? ›

In September 2022, the business executive launched a personalized interview platform with Fortune Media Group called American Entrepreneur. He also regularly updates his Instagram account with content about starting businesses and advice on making deals.

How much money is Lori from Shark Tank worth? ›

Lori Greiner Net Worth$150 million
Birthplace:Chicago, IL
Gender:Female
Height:5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Source of Wealth:Television personality, inventor, entrepreneur, and author
3 more rows
Apr 20, 2023

Is any shark a billionaire? ›

Mark Cuban: $4.6 Billion Net Worth

Not only is the Dallas Mavericks owner the richest shark on Shark Tank, but he's one of the wealthiest men in America.

Does Amazon own Shark Tank? ›

NEW YORK (AP) — Online shopping giant Amazon is buying MGM, the movie and TV studio behind James Bond, “Legally Blonde” and “Shark Tank,” with the hopes of filling its video streaming service with more stuff to watch.

How much did Lori make on Scrub Daddy? ›

When the inventors of Scrub Daddy came to Shark Tank, Lori Greiner invested $200,000 in the co-product. That earned her a 20% stake. Her 20% ownership of the company has likely generated at least $20 million.

What disability does Barbara from Shark Tank have? ›

Due to her undiagnosed dyslexia, “I was labeled the 'dumb kid' that couldn't read or write, coming all through to when I was graduating in high school,” Corcoran told CNBC Make It. But she never let that, or the bullying she endured because of it, deter her from achieving success.

How rich is Barbara Shark Tank? ›

Barbara Corcoran, the renowned investor and TV personality, has a net worth of $90 million as of 2022. She began her career in real estate after founding The Corcoran Group and later selling it for $66 million. Corcoran's diverse investment portfolio includes startup businesses, real estate, and franchises.

Did Barbara from Shark Tank ever have a stroke? ›

Barbara had three strokes since 2017, with the last one occurring on Nov. 13.

Do Shark Tank judges make money? ›

Without a doubt, Shark Tank's judges are paid a hefty amount of money to be featured on the show. Even though the amount of their salary per episode has not been verified, according to Variety, it is believed that each of the Sharks makes an estimated amount of $50,000 per episode as per claims put out in 2016.

How long does Shark Tank actually take? ›

The only part of Shark Tank that's scripted or pre-planned is that first pitch you see as soon as the entrepreneur walks into the tank. You hit your mark, you wait for a minute while the cameras move around you, then you have your 90-second pitch. And that's it. All of the rest of it is totally unscripted.

Do Shark Tank investors actually invest? ›

They make money from the deals they make with the entrepreneurs who come on the show. If a Shark makes a deal with an entrepreneur, it will usually invest its own money in the business. The amount of money they make depends on how successful the business is. The Sharks also make money from royalties and licensing fees.

Has any Shark Tank business failed? ›

Body Jac

Sharks Kevin Harrington and Barbara Corcoran immediately saw potential in his exercise machine and invested a combined $180,000 in the company. But somewhere along the way, things went awry. The Body Jac website mysteriously shut down in 2012, and Corcoran now calls this her worst deal to date.

What percentage of Shark Tank deals actually close? ›

In 2016, Forbes found that 43% of the deals made in the "Shark Tank" ultimately dissolved, with the contestants alleging that the investors attempted to offer them altered deals off-air. Only 27% of these handshake deals were legally closed under the terms agreed to while filming the series.

What is the biggest deal in Shark Tank history? ›

What Is the Most Successful Product on "Shark Tank"? With more than $225 million in lifetime sales, Bombas has generated the highest sales on "Shark Tank". The company, which sells comfort socks and T-shirts, donates one item per item sold to help the homeless.

Is Shark Tank real or staged? ›

Yes, Shark Tank is a real television show that features entrepreneurs who pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful business executives, known as "sharks," in the hopes of securing an investment in exchange for a percentage of their company.

Which shark has made the most off investments? ›

Is Mark Cuban the Richest Shark? Although everyone on Shark Tank is wealthy, Mark Cuban is the only billionaire in the main cast. However, he's not the richest investor to ever become a shark – that honor belongs to Sir Richard Branson, whose net worth of $4.6 billion just barely makes him richer.

How many Shark Tank deals have failed? ›

But more often than not, those hand-shake agreements change or fall apart after taping. FORBES found that 319 businesses accepted deals on-air in the first seven seasons of Shark Tank. We spoke to 237 of those business owners and discovered 73% did not get the exact deal they made on TV.

How hard is it to get on Shark Tank? ›

Landing a coveted spot on the hit ABC show, Shark Tank, is a dream from many entrepreneurs. But it's not easy. According to USA Today, the show receives 35,000-40,000 applicants each season. Of these, only 1,000 advance to the next round and in most seasons, only 88 contestants will appear on the show.

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