CELEBRITY
Mark Cuban Says He Plans To Leave ‘Shark Tank’ After Season 16
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Billionaire investor Mark Cuban said he’s leaving Shark Tank after season 16, giving him another year on the ABC series.
This is our 15th year, and next year, our 16th year, is gonna be my last year, Cuban, 65, revealed during an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast. So I got one more year to go. Although he’s leaving, Cuban said he still loves what Shark Tank has accomplished.
“I love it because it sends the message the American dream is alive and well, Cuban told hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
“I feel like in doing Shark Tank all these years, weve trained multiple generations of entrepreneurs that if somebody can come from Iowa or Sacramento or wherever, and show up on the carpet of Shark Tank and show their business and get a deal, its going to inspire generations of kids,” Cuban said. “Thats what happens, right? Now weve got people coming on saying I watched you when I was 10 years old. Im like, f. But were helping them right? Ive invested in, I dont know how many hundreds of companies.”
As a longtime investor, Cuban shared how he recognizes bad pitches on Shark Tank.
The harder they have to try to sell, the worse the deal, he said.
“The longer the backstory, the worse the deal. Meaning, the minute you start telling me how hard it was for you? It’s hard for every motherfing entrepreneur,” he added. “I don’t need to hear your backstory. Tell me about your business, tell me why you are going to be successful. Tell me what’s different about it. Tell me how you stand out.
Instead, he looks for ideas [where I’m] like, ‘Damn, why didn’t I think of that?’
Cuban joined Shark Tank in season 2 as a guest, becoming a full-time regular in season 3, and said that it’s time for him to leave the show.
TMX contributed to this article.
