Mark Cuban has announced that he will be leaving ABC’s “Shark Tank” after over a decade on the show. The 65-year-old billionaire entrepreneur and investor intends to step away following the conclusion of Season 16 in 2025, as revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I just want to have a couple summers with my teens before they go off on their own,” explained Cuban, emphasizing that his decision is not tied to any dissatisfaction with the show. “Nothing to do with the show. I love it. I love being on it. I love what [it] represents and how it motivates entrepreneurs around the world.”
Cuban has been a fixture on the show since joining as a “Shark” investor and startup pitch judge in 2011, and his departure isn’t the only major recent headline involving him. He also reached an agreement to sell a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks — which he’s owned since 2000 — for $3.5 billion, while holding on to a minority stake and control of basketball operations, as confirmed by CNBC.
His tenure on “Shark Tank” has generated countless memorable moments, like when he made the largest offer in the show’s history or when he shocked everyone by accepting a competitor’s idea. Here are three of the most notable instances:
The largest offer in ‘Shark Tank’ history
During Season 6, Cuban made the biggest offer in “Shark Tank” history to the sisters behind dating app Coffee Meets Bagel, Arum, Soo, and Dawoon Kang. They sought $500,000 for 5% of their company, which wasn’t yet profitable at the time but had secured $2.8 million in funding. Despite initially withholding user data, Cuban eventually offered them $30 million for the entire company, marking the largest offer in the show’s history. The Kangs refused, and by 2018, the app’s valuation was estimated to be between $50 million and $100 million.
‘I like the idea so much, I’m going to take it’
In a surprising twist, Cuban expressed his admiration for a cremation alternative company, Parting Stone, on an episode that aired earlier this year. Even though the founder was seeking investment, Cuban revealed he was already involved in a similar startup and ultimately decided to use the idea for that business. The founder secured an offer from other investors, ultimately achieving success despite Cuban’s rejection.
‘Dumbest marketing move ever’
On an episode from last year, brothers Donovan and Trey Brown had an unfortunate encounter with Cuban. During their pitch, they inadvertently upset Cuban by presenting him with an air freshener featuring a rival NBA team’s logo. This move prompted Cuban to declare it “the dumbest marketing move ever.” Despite their misstep, the Brown brothers managed to land a deal with Barbara Corcoran. They later explained that the incident was part of a planned viral marketing strategy.
Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank.”
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