www.cnbc.com Open in urlscan Pro
104.111.214.166  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip Navigation
Mark Cuban says 25% of his ‘Shark Tank’ deals are flops: ‘What the hell was I
thinking?’
ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via
LinkedInShare Article via Email
Success
 * Startups
 * Side Hustles
 * Power Players
 * Young Success

Money
 * Earn
 * Spend
 * Save and Invest
 * Become Debt-Free

Work
 * Land the Job
 * Get Ahead
 * Closing the Gap
 * Science of Success

Life
 * Pop Culture and Media
 * Psychology and Relationships
 * Health and Wellness
 * Real Estate

Video
 * Most Popular
 * CNBC TV



Menu

SEARCHCNBC.COM


Fired Up3 money moves that helped these Americans quit their jobs and move
abroad
Ryan Ermey
•
2 hours ago
WorkWhy does work feel so dysfunctional right now? Experts weigh in
Jennifer Liu
MoneyThis mom makes $760K a year in passive income—and lives on a sailboat: ’I
work...
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Contributor

Power Players


MARK CUBAN SAYS 25% OF HIS ‘SHARK TANK’ DEALS ARE FLOPS: ‘WHAT THE HELL WAS I
THINKING?’

Published Mon, Sep 26 20221:29 PM EDT
Tom Huddleston Jr.
ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via
LinkedInShare Article via Email
Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, speaks at the
WSJTECH live conference in Laguna Beach, California, October 21, 2019.
Mike Blake | Reuters

After 13 seasons on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Mark Cuban estimates that he’s had about
as many hits as misses.

Some of his on-screen deals have worked out great, he says. Others, not so much.
Such is the risk of investing. But even when it comes to the ones that
eventually left him scratching his own head, Cuban tells CNBC Make It that he
has “no regrets.”



By Cuban’s own estimation, roughly one in four of his “Shark Tank” deals “have
done really well or crushed it,” he told a local Denver ABC affiliate on Friday.
“Fifty percent ... have been good and continue to go on, and 25% where I just
think to myself: ‘What the hell was I thinking?’”

One notable example: Cuban has highlighted the Breathometer, billed as “the
world’s first smartphone breathalyzer,” as his worst “Shark Tank” investment to
date. Cuban said he lost roughly $500,000 on the deal, after investing in the
business in 2013.

“That was my biggest beating,” Cuban told CNBC Make It in July.

In total, the billionaire investor has struck more than 200 on-screen deals
worth more than $61 million in his time on the show, according to a recent
online estimate. On Monday, Cuban told Forbes that the real-life figure is
closer to $29 million: Not all of the deals depicted on the show make it all the
way to closing.

Cuban says his “Shark Tank” deals aren’t always solely about bringing in big
financial returns. “I’m good with that with my ‘Shark Tank’ companies,” Cuban
wrote on Twitter in July. “I don’t do the show to get the best investments. And
I don’t always invest because I think I’ll make money. Sometimes my deals are
purely to help someone or send a message.”



That’s why he doesn’t seem to mind not yet being in the black when it comes to
his total investments on the show. In July, Cuban told the “Full Send” podcast
that he’s taken a net loss on all of his “Shark Tank” investments so far. He
later clarified that he meant “on a cash basis,” only accounting for the
investments he’s already exited.

“I haven’t gotten out more than I have put in. But that doesn’t account for all
the ongoing, operating businesses and their valuations,” Cuban told CNBC Make It
at the time.

Deals that flop are an inevitability of investing, according to fellow “Shark
Tank” star Kevin O’Leary. “You make 10 investments, you get two to three huge
hits. And it pays for the other seven [failed investments],” O’Leary told CNBC
Make It last month.

Still, Cuban says he’s beginning to think about when he should step away from
“Shark Tank” to focus on his own ventures, including the new online pharmacy
Cost Plus Drugs.

“Part of me wants to quit,” Cuban told Forbes on Monday.

The investor didn’t offer any timeline for when he might depart the popular
program, but said the show could likely weather his exit: “They’ll survive fine
without me.”

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank.”

Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter

Don’t miss:

Why Mark Cuban called this ‘Shark Tank’ CEO who brought in millions ‘a great
case for what not to do’

Barbara Corcoran to ‘Shark Tank’ start-up: This common mental mistake is ‘the
biggest danger’ to your success

VIDEO1:4101:41
37-year-old retiree shares the two things you should know before retiring early
Fired Up

Trending Now

 1. McDonald’s is releasing a ‘nostalgic’ new Happy Meal for adults, complete
    with a toy
    
 2. Over 700,000 borrowers no longer qualify for student loan relief—how to
    check your eligibility
    
 3. This 31-year-old turned his side hustle into a $300,000 business: ‘I only
    work 4 hours a week’
    
 4. 83% of workers have seen or experienced quiet firing—7 signs to look for
    
 5. A nutritionist shares the 6 frozen foods she always buys: ‘They’re just as
    healthy—and much cheaper’
    





STAY IN THE LOOP

Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox

Sign Up

ABOUT US

Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It

Learn More

FOLLOW US

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

CNBC.COMJoin the CNBC Panel

© 2022 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Division of NBC Universal

Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Personal Information
CA NoticeTerms of ServiceContact



COOKIE SETTINGS

We and our partners collect information from your device, such as device
identifiers, IP address, and your browser type to personalize and deliver
content, marketing and advertising—across devices and platforms; for analytics
and measurement, so we can improve our services and develop new ones; to match
and combine offline data with your online activity; and for social features. We
share this information with selected partners with your consent. By clicking
“Allow All”, you consent to our use of these Cookies. Click on the Cookie
categories or the “Detailed purpose descriptions” below to learn more about
these Cookies. We will also use other Cookies that are essential for our site
and Services, including for security and fraud prevention. To learn more about
some of our partners, see the List of IAB Vendors below. Visit our Cookie Notice
and Privacy Policy to learn more.
Allow All


MANAGE CONSENT PREFERENCES

STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES

Always Active

These Cookies are required for Service functionality, including security and
fraud prevention, and to enable any purchasing capabilities. You can set your
browser to block these Cookies, but some parts of the site may not function
properly.

Non-IAB Cookies‎

ENSURE SECURITY, PREVENT FRAUD, AND DEBUG

Always Active

Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent fraudulent activity, and ensure
systems and processes work properly and securely.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | Detailed Purpose Descriptions Opens in a new Tab

TECHNICALLY DELIVER ADS OR CONTENT

Always Active

Your device can receive and send information that allows you to see and interact
with ads and content.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | Detailed Purpose Descriptions Opens in a new Tab

STORE AND/OR ACCESS INFORMATION ON A DEVICE

Store and/or access information on a device

Cookies, device identifiers, or other information can be stored or accessed on
your device for the purposes presented to you.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | Detailed Purpose Descriptions Opens in a new Tab
Non-IAB Cookies‎

PERSONALISED ADS, AND AD MEASUREMENT

Personalised ads, and ad measurement

 * SELECT PERSONALISED ADS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Personalised ads can be shown to you based on a profile about you.

 * MEASURE AD PERFORMANCE
   
   Switch Label
   
   The performance and effectiveness of ads that you see or interact with can be
   measured.

 * CREATE A PERSONALISED ADS PROFILE
   
   Switch Label
   
   A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised
   ads that are relevant to you.

 * SELECT BASIC ADS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Ads can be shown to you based on the content you’re viewing, the app you’re
   using, your approximate location, or your device type.

 * TARGETED ADVERTISING COOKIES
   
   Switch Label
   
   These Cookies are used to collect data about your browsing habits, use of the
   Services, your preferences, and your interaction with advertisements across
   platforms and devices for the purpose of delivering targeted advertising
   content, both on our Services and on third party sites. Third-party sites and
   services also use Targeting Cookies to deliver content, including
   advertisements relevant to your interests on the Services. If you reject
   these Cookies, you will see less relevant advertising.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | Detailed Purpose Descriptions Opens in a new Tab
Non-IAB Cookies‎

PERSONALISED CONTENT, CONTENT MEASUREMENT, AUDIENCE INSIGHTS, AND PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT

Personalised content, content measurement, audience insights, and product
development

 * DEVELOP AND IMPROVE PRODUCTS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Your data can be used to improve existing systems and software, and to
   develop new products

 * SELECT PERSONALISED CONTENT
   
   Switch Label
   
   Personalised content can be shown to you based on a profile about you.

 * APPLY MARKET RESEARCH TO GENERATE AUDIENCE INSIGHTS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Market research can be used to learn more about the audiences who visit
   sites/apps and view ads.

 * CREATE A PERSONALISED CONTENT PROFILE
   
   Switch Label
   
   A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised
   content that is relevant to you.

 * MEASURE CONTENT PERFORMANCE
   
   Switch Label
   
   The performance and effectiveness of content that you see or interact with
   can be measured.

 * CONTENT SELECTION COOKIES
   
   Switch Label
   
   This group is so Content Selection IAB group can have an id

List of IAB Vendors‎ | Detailed Purpose Descriptions Opens in a new Tab
Non-IAB Cookies‎

SOCIAL MEDIA COOKIES

Social Media Cookies

These Cookies are set by social media platforms on the Services to enable you to
share content with your friends and networks. Social media platforms have the
ability to track your online activity outside of the Services. This may impact
the content and messages you see on other websites you visit.

Non-IAB Cookies‎


BACK BUTTON PERFORMANCE COOKIES



Vendor Search Search Icon
Filter Icon

Clear
checkbox label label
Apply Cancel
Consent Leg.Interest
checkbox label label
checkbox label label
checkbox label label


 * 33ACROSS
   
   HOST DESCRIPTION
   
   VIEW COOKIES
   
   
    * Name
      cookie name

Confirm My Choices


We and our partners collect information from your device, such as device
identifiers, IP address, and your browser type to personalize and deliver
content, marketing and advertising—across devices and platforms; for analytics
and measurement, so we can improve our services and develop new ones; to match
and combine offline data with your online activity; and for social features. We
share this information with selected partners with your consent. By clicking “I
accept”, you consent to our use of these Cookies. Click Manage Choices to learn
more about these. We will also use other Cookies that are essential for our site
and Services, including for security and fraud prevention. To learn more about
some of our partners select Show Vendors. You can adjust your preferences at any
time via the “Manage Cookie Preferences” link in the footer of relevant
NBCUniversal websites or in-app settings. Visit our Cookie Notice and Privacy
Policy to learn more.


WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised ads, and ad
measurement. Personalised content, content measurement, audience insights, and
product development. List of IAB Vendors

I Accept Manage Choices