Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Full Interview - Mark Cuban
US Weekly
Follow
12/1/2023
Full Interview - Mark Cuban
Category
😹
Fun
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Dancing with the Stars was the hardest thing
00:01
and the scariest thing I've ever done,
00:03
and it's not even close.
00:05
Shark Tank, celebrating 15 seasons, 15 years.
00:08
I mean, did you ever think when you joined the show, season
00:11
two, that it would be going on for this long?
00:13
No, honestly, I thought, OK, this is a business show.
00:15
It's bouncing around from night to night.
00:18
This will be the last season.
00:19
And here we are 14 years later.
00:21
When you got the call to be on the show,
00:23
was there ever any hesitation?
00:24
No, no, because I'd seen the show.
00:26
I'm like, they suck.
00:27
I can come on and do a much better job.
00:29
And so when they had me come on first as a guest shark--
00:31
so it was Jeff Foxworthy, who came on for three episodes
00:34
of myself as well.
00:35
I got there, and I'm like, OK, I'm just going to tear him up.
00:37
I'm just going to raise hell.
00:38
And then I've been there ever since.
00:39
Barbara described everybody as a dysfunctional family.
00:42
Exactly right.
00:43
Is that exactly right?
00:44
Yeah, because I hate them all.
00:45
No, it's like, there's Kevin, who's in his own little world,
00:48
but we all get along great.
00:49
You all get along.
00:50
Do you spend a lot of time together off camera?
00:52
We'll go out to dinner and hang out some.
00:54
And Damon and I will hang out all the time when he's in
00:57
Dallas or I'm in New York.
00:59
But yeah, it's not like we avoid each other.
01:02
I mean, we actually like spending time together.
01:04
That's a good thing.
01:04
Yeah.
01:05
When you're walking around the streets of New York or anywhere,
01:08
do people come up and pitch you all the time?
01:09
Oh, yeah, all the time.
01:10
People will chase me down.
01:12
I mean, I've been in the urinal.
01:13
You name it.
01:14
I mean, it's a good problem to have,
01:16
but I get pitched everywhere.
01:18
Any time it's ever worked out?
01:20
Actually, just off the street, no.
01:23
But I've gotten cold emails that have turned
01:25
into really big businesses.
01:26
Really?
01:26
Yeah.
01:27
That's amazing.
01:28
Yeah, so like costplusdrugs.com, that was a cold email.
01:31
Relativity Space, it just did a round at $4 billion.
01:35
I still haven't met those guys.
01:36
I was their first investor.
01:38
They pitched me online.
01:38
I'm like, this is great.
01:39
They're from Dallas.
01:40
Let me get in.
01:41
And it's just boomed.
01:44
So you never know.
01:45
You just never know.
01:46
You never know.
01:47
Yep.
01:47
So that means you're always scrolling through your emails.
01:50
Always looking.
01:51
Yeah, like 1,000 a day.
01:52
And I like to do most of my stuff via email.
01:54
But again, that's the power of the show.
01:57
What is that advice that you always
01:59
give people when they are getting
02:00
ready to come onto Shark Tank?
02:02
You know, be prepared.
02:03
Because this is your baby, your business.
02:05
You should know it better than anybody in the world.
02:08
And when you have one person grill you,
02:10
maybe we'll miss something.
02:12
But when there's five sharks, and they're really smart,
02:15
and they're asking questions, we're
02:17
not going to miss anything.
02:18
No, you don't miss anything.
02:19
Out of all-- I mean, you've invested in so many companies
02:22
over the years.
02:23
Which one has surprised you the most?
02:25
Beatbox Beverages.
02:26
OK.
02:26
So Beatbox Beverages is kind of a wine cooler,
02:30
and now a spritzer as well.
02:32
And they came on just a bunch of partying guys, and one girl,
02:37
out of Austin.
02:38
And I'm like, OK, it'll be fun.
02:40
But I thought, OK, it has a chance to be big.
02:42
And I gave them a million dollars
02:43
for a third of the company.
02:44
And now they're worth over $200 million.
02:47
They'll do, hopefully, $100 million in sales this year.
02:50
And they're just killing it.
02:51
They're taking over the spritzer category.
02:54
I mean, college kids everywhere just
02:56
live on Beatbox Beverages.
02:57
So it's been amazing.
02:57
I love that.
02:58
What's the one that got away that still maybe keeps you up
03:01
at night?
03:02
It doesn't keep me up at night, but Spikeball.
03:04
Yeah?
03:05
Yeah, because you live by a beach, right?
03:06
So you see Spikeball there all the time.
03:09
And I see my kids play it.
03:10
We have it in the garage.
03:11
And every time I see it in the garage, it's like, oh,
03:14
my goodness.
03:15
Because they wanted me to be the chairman--
03:17
no, the commissioner of a Spikeball league.
03:21
And I'm like, I own an NBA team.
03:22
Sure, yeah.
03:23
The last thing I want to do is be
03:24
commissioner of a Spikeball league.
03:25
But they were right.
03:26
I was wrong.
03:27
Yeah.
03:27
What's one of the products that you use on the daily?
03:32
Well, there's one that's coming on this season that
03:35
is kind of a healthy sweets.
03:37
And that's my go-to sweet tooth, right?
03:40
I've got a sweet tooth, right?
03:41
And so I eat these things called Alyssa's Healthy Cookies
03:44
in the morning because they're healthy and they taste great.
03:46
And then to get my sweet tooth, like during the day
03:48
or after I work out, there's a bar that comes on the show,
03:51
season 15.
03:53
And actually, it's in the premiere episode.
03:55
And it is just amazing, amazing, amazing.
03:59
And so when I tasted it, it was just like, OK.
04:02
So that's become part of my daily routine.
04:04
Yeah, definitely.
04:05
Your kids always like, bring this home for us.
04:07
Yes, I mean, yeah.
04:07
They're like, we want more.
04:08
We want more.
04:09
We want more.
04:10
I invested in a company called Youthphoria, which is makeup.
04:14
You don't think I would do-- but I have two--
04:16
well, now one daughter's 20 and the other's 17.
04:19
Prime customers, and they're like, bring more, bring more,
04:21
bring more.
04:22
Where's the Youthphoria?
04:23
What's the one piece of financial advice
04:25
that you hope that your kids listen to?
04:27
Oh, any of it.
04:28
Any of it?
04:28
[LAUGHTER]
04:30
I'm trying to get them to understand how to do budgets
04:33
and to understand the concept of credit.
04:35
When I was growing up, just not getting my credit cards ripped
04:38
up was a step in the right direction.
04:41
But for my kids, they just think the money comes out
04:44
of thin air to pay those credit cards.
04:46
And so trying to get them to understand a budget
04:48
and that you have to have the money to pay off
04:51
all these things, that's been a challenge.
04:53
But they're smart kids.
04:54
They're figuring it out.
04:55
Yeah, what do you think of those business owners or people that
04:58
are coming onto the show that maybe don't want the investment
05:01
but just want the--
05:02
The commercial?
05:03
Yes.
05:03
I hate it.
05:04
Yeah.
05:04
Because 15 years in, they've watched all the episodes.
05:08
And they've seen what's happened.
05:09
And they follow up with other companies
05:11
that have been on the show.
05:13
And so they definitely try to game the system.
05:15
And it's really annoying.
05:18
And we yell at the producers.
05:19
Why can't you tell?
05:20
Why can't you tell?
05:22
And they're trying to find that balance between good TV
05:25
and good opportunities.
05:26
But it's OK.
05:28
Of all the problems you're going to have,
05:29
somebody coming on Shark Tank that's a good company,
05:32
just for a commercial, OK, we can live with that.
05:34
Yeah, can you sniff that out right away, though?
05:35
Yeah.
05:36
But you know what?
05:36
Here's the other thing, though.
05:38
Sometimes they don't err.
05:39
So the process is they come in.
05:41
We know nothing about them.
05:42
We hear the pitch.
05:43
The pitch can go 15 minutes on television,
05:46
but 45 to 90 minutes in real life, in real time.
05:50
And then if we make a deal, we get to do due diligence.
05:53
And there's a period between when
05:55
they pitch us versus when the show starts and premieres.
05:59
And so we have that due diligence period.
06:02
And if we realize that they have no interest in closing,
06:05
there's a really good chance they won't close--
06:07
won't err, rather.
06:08
So any of you watching now, you won't
06:11
err if you try to take advantage of the system.
06:13
Yes.
06:13
Are you more selective now that you've been
06:15
doing this for so many years?
06:16
Yeah.
06:17
Because you've learned over the hundreds of deals
06:21
that I've done, it's a normal distribution where 25%--
06:25
I'm like, what was I thinking?
06:27
And then 25% are, oh my goodness,
06:29
this company's turned out either OK or really good.
06:32
And then 50%, they're normal companies,
06:34
just chugging along, making a little bit of money.
06:37
And so you get a little bit smarter.
06:39
And at the beginning, I did more deals
06:41
just because it was good TV.
06:43
Then I realized how much babysitting was involved
06:45
and how much harder that made life.
06:47
It was more work for me.
06:47
Yeah, it was a lot more work for me,
06:48
so I do a few less of those.
06:49
Yeah.
06:50
Any big regrets looking back?
06:52
No, not really.
06:53
I mean, there's always deals that might have--
06:58
woulda, coulda, shouldas.
06:59
But it's just-- when you're helping so many entrepreneurs
07:04
and you're helping people build their lives
07:06
and helping them grow their businesses, that's rewarding.
07:09
I've seen people go from broke to living
07:12
a really, really nice life.
07:14
And having established not just for themselves
07:17
and not just build a business, but for their families
07:20
and their kids and their relatives,
07:22
and just being able to do that, that's enough.
07:25
Yeah.
07:25
You know, things can sometimes get tense between the sharks
07:28
on set.
07:29
Do you guys stop that when the cameras stop?
07:31
Or is there--
07:32
No.
07:32
No?
07:33
Because if it's a really, really competitive deal,
07:36
it'll be-- it'll definitely carry over.
07:38
But by the end of the day--
07:39
maybe by the next day.
07:40
By the next day?
07:41
Or at least the next week.
07:42
Yeah.
07:42
Or at least then it's past it.
07:43
What's your favorite behind-the-scenes moment
07:45
that we probably haven't seen?
07:47
When they play Rapper's Delight.
07:49
So a pitch will come in, and then there's
07:51
a little bit of time to set up for the next pitch.
07:54
They come in and do last looks, hair, makeup, all that stuff.
07:56
And then sometimes the setup can take a while.
07:59
And so they're playing music the whole time.
08:02
But whenever Rapper's Delight comes on, for 15, 14 years now,
08:05
it's been like--
08:06
particularly if Damon's there, then we're saying, hip,
08:08
hop, hippy to the hippy.
08:09
You know, we're all doing the same thing.
08:11
And then there's-- like, when Damon's on, he's got--
08:14
he always has a theme song when he walks in.
08:16
I love that.
08:17
Oh, no, we don't.
08:18
So it went from-- he's Chocolate Thunder.
08:21
So literally, he produced music that they play on set,
08:25
where he walks onto the set for a deal, and he'll go,
08:28
chocolate thunder.
08:30
And it went from Chocolate Thunder to chocolate thunder,
08:33
extra crispy.
08:35
And it's just, like, so annoying, but it's fun.
08:37
What is more difficult, "Shark Tank"
08:39
or "Dancing With The Stars"?
08:40
"Dancing With The Stars."
08:41
It's not even close.
08:42
Oh, my god.
08:43
"Dancing With The Stars" was the hardest thing
08:45
and the scariest thing I've ever done.
08:47
And it's not even close.
08:48
It's not even close.
08:49
No, I was on the episode when Marie Osmond fainted--
08:52
season five, so going way back, right?
08:54
And there were 22 million people that were watching live.
08:57
We were on Monday and Tuesday, back to back, live episodes.
09:01
You know, there's 27 million people.
09:02
And I'm out there doing whatever.
09:06
And it was-- oh, I used to practice, like,
09:09
seven, eight hours a day so I wouldn't embarrass myself.
09:12
It was a blast, but it was scary.
09:14
And then, crazy, Kim Johnson was my partner and Mary Robert.
09:18
Right, and I'm sure, obviously, you all are still very close.
09:21
Oh, yeah, of course.
09:21
I love that so much.
09:22
The twins and everything.
09:22
That is so great.
09:23
It's really cool.
09:24
Well, I am so excited for this upcoming season.
09:26
I know, season 15.
09:27
"Shark Tank" is going to be so good.
09:29
It really is.
09:29
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time.
09:30
Thanks for having me, Christine.
09:31
This was great.
Recommended
1:15
|
Up next
Terrifying 'Tilt' Rollercoaster Gets Stuck with Riders Suspended Straight Down on Opening Day
People
today
1:41
Boy, 12, Dies After Trying Dangerous Social Media Challenge: ‘One Brief Moment Changed Everything’
People
today
1:01
A$AP Rocky Appears to Reveal the Sex of His Third Child with Rihanna
People
today
5:19
Inter vs. Barcelona 4-3 | All Goals & Highlights | UEFA Champions League
EsKairOck
5/6/2025
1:41
Olivia Munn Makes Rare Comment About Aaron Rodgers, His Family Drama
US Weekly
today
1:03
Baywatch' Alum Erika Eleniak Goes Makeup-Free in Rare Public Outing
US Weekly
today
1:16
Leonardo DiCaprio's Girlfriend Has Wardrobe Malfunction at Bezos Wedding
US Weekly
today
0:57
Carly Pearce Wants Fans to Know that She Wears a Wig on Stage
US Weekly
today
1:35
Why Jennifer Garner’s Marriage to Scott Foley ‘Imploded’
US Weekly
today
1:23
Charles Kelley Teases Lady A’s Next Chapter as They Enjoy Family Life and a ‘Musical Reset’
US Weekly
2 days ago
1:02
Chicago P.D.' Loses Main Cast Member Amid Ongoing Franchise Shakeups
US Weekly
3 days ago
2:35
Bonnie Blue After OnlyFans Permanent Ban and ‘Petting Zoo’ Event Cancellation: What's Next
US Weekly
3 days ago
1:36
Kelly Stafford Details Grooming Horror Story
US Weekly
3 days ago
1:34
Madi Prewett Details Husband Grant's 'Radical Transformation'
US Weekly
3 days ago
1:02
Madi Prewett Says She's Been ‘Free From Porn and Masturbation’ for 10 Years
US Weekly
4 days ago
1:27
Allison Williams Wishes 'Girls' Had Intimacy Coordinator for Oral Sex Scene
US Weekly
4 days ago
1:07
Every Celeb Spotted at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Wedding Festivities
US Weekly
4 days ago
2:03
Brad Pitt Gearing Up to Face-Off With Angelina Jolie for 2-Week Trial
US Weekly
4 days ago
1:10
Scott Wolf Files for Restraining Order Against Ex Kelley Amid Divorce
US Weekly
4 days ago
1:29
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Split After 7 Years Together
US Weekly
5 days ago
1:27
Influencer Addressed Why She Ended Marriage Days Before Husband Killed Her
US Weekly
5 days ago
1:12
LeAnn Rimes' Teeth Fell Out Mid-Performance at Recent Concert
US Weekly
5 days ago
1:30
JFK Had Sex With Flight Attendant 1 Month After Stillborn Daughter's Birth
US Weekly
5 days ago
2:23
Kevin Costner Breaks Silence After Woman Files New Alleged SA Evidence
US Weekly
5 days ago
1:15
Fitness Influencer Killed by Estranged Husband While on a Date
US Weekly
5 days ago