Mark Cuban Bids Farewell to 'Shark Tank' After Season 16: The End of an Era
Veteran entrepreneur Mark Cuban bids farewell to popular reality show 'Shark Tank' after an impressive 16 seasons, leaving a lasting impact as a former guest turned esteemed full-time panelist
Mark Cuban. ABC/Christopher Willard
Mark Cuban is getting ready to bid farewell to the Shark Tank boardroom. "This is our 15th year, and next year, our 16th year, is going to be my final year," Cuban announced in a recent interview on the "All the Smoke" Showtime basketball podcast. "So I have one more year left."
After more than a decade on the show, Cuban expressed that he believes "it's time" for him to move on. Since joining as a guest star in 2011 and becoming a full-time panelist for season 3, the Dallas Mavericks owner has been a constant presence on the series. Despite not leaving until 2025, Cuban stated his deep respect for the show and its ability to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs.
"It's inspiring because it sends the message that the American dream is still alive and well," he said. "Through Shark Tank, we've been able to train multiple generations of entrepreneurs that coming from anywhere, be it Iowa, Sacramento, or anywhere else, and appearing on the Shark Tank stage to discuss their business and strike a deal can inspire kids for generations to come. That's the impact, isn't it?"
He continued by saying, "Now we have people coming on and telling us, 'I watched you when I was 10 years old.' It's crazy. But we're making an impact, aren't we? I've invested in countless companies."
Currently, Shark Tank is showing its 15th season on ABC. Alongside Cuban, the reality series features a group of investors which includes Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O'Leary, and Lori Greiner.
Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner. ABC/Christopher Willard
In an exclusive interview with We earlier this year, Cuban shared insight into his experience on the show and his decision to join the series. "I had watched the show and thought, 'the Sharks are not that good. I could do better,'" he joked. "So when they invited me to be a guest shark... I thought, 'I'm going to shake things up.' And I've been there ever since."
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Cuban appeared on the show for 12 seasons and invested in numerous companies, but one product's success surprised him the most. Beatbox beverages, initially a wine cooler and now a spritzer, was founded by a group of partying guys and one girl from Austin. Cuban invested a million dollars for a third of the company, which is now valued at over $200 million.
