With a combined net worth of over $5 billion, the cast of Shark Tank has quickly become some of the most recognizable and influential investors in the business world. The show’s premise revolves around entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to a panel of these wealthy investors, known as the “Sharks,” in hopes of securing an investment deal.
Between the six core Sharks, they’ve made numerous investment deals on the show, some of which have turned into highly successful businesses, while others have failed to gain traction. Their ability to identify promising opportunities and provide valuable mentorship has been instrumental in the success of many companies featured on Shark Tank. Some notable businesses that have found success after securing deals on the show include Scrub Daddy, Squatty Potty, Bombas, and Plated.
With a net worth of over $5 billion combined (yes, $5 billion), the cast of Shark Tank has quickly become some of the most recognizable people in business. Between the six Sharks, they’ve made good, and bad investments during their time on the show, but the success they’ve seen with their own ventures is also incredible.
Shark Tank is based on the format of the British series Dragons’ Den, which originated the concept of entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to a panel of investors. The show debuted in 2009 on ABC and quickly gained popularity, becoming a ratings success and winning multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. Two of the Sharks, Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec, had previously appeared as investors on the Canadian version of Dragons’ Den before joining Shark Tank.
When Shark Tank started, entrepreneurs in America quickly realized this was a great opportunity to gain insights into what investors look for in a business pitch and how to effectively present their ideas. The show essentially serves as a real-life case study, allowing entrepreneurs to learn from the interactions between the Sharks and the pitchers, including:
- What questions and concerns investors typically have about a business idea, such as market size, competitive landscape, and financial projections
- How to effectively communicate the value proposition, unique selling points, and growth potential of the product or service
- How to handle tough negotiations, respond to criticism or skepticism, and address potential weaknesses or risks
- What factors can make or break an investment deal, such as valuation, equity stake, and the entrepreneur’s ability to execute the business plan
- How to tailor the pitch to different investors’ areas of expertise and investment preferences
The Shark Tank cast comprises highly successful and experienced investors from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique expertise and perspectives to the show. Between Lori Greiner’s prowess in product development and marketing, Mark Cuban’s tech and entrepreneurial savvy, Kevin O’Leary’s financial acumen, Robert Herjavec’s cybersecurity and IT knowledge, and Barbara Corcoran’s real estate and business-building experience, the Sharks offer a wealth of invaluable insights and advice for both viewers and entrepreneurs pitching on the show.
For entrepreneurs aspiring to pitch their business on Shark Tank, it’s crucial to understand the diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise of each Shark. This knowledge can help tailor the pitch and highlight aspects of the business that align with the Sharks’ interests and investment preferences. The following sections provide an in-depth look at the Sharks’ backgrounds, accomplishments, and investment philosophies, serving as a valuable resource for those preparing to enter the Tank.
So, to save you some time, we’ve done the work for you and have your perfect Shark Tank cheat sheet when looking at developing your pitch and some stats on what they’ve done to date.
Lori Greiner – The Queen of QVC and Prolific Inventor
Lori Greiner is a true powerhouse in the world of retail product development and innovation. With over 600 products to her name and an impressive portfolio of more than 120 patents globally, she has earned the well-deserved title of “The Queen of QVC.” Her ability to identify consumer needs and create ingenious solutions has made her a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Kind of amazing.
As a fan-favorite on Shark Tank, Lori Greiner’s expertise in product development and marketing has made her an invaluable asset to entrepreneurs seeking investment and guidance. With an estimated net worth of $100 million, her ability to identify winning products and bring them to market successfully is unparalleled. Lori has a keen eye for spotting potential “heroes” and weeding out the “zeros,” making her an ideal partner for businesses looking to launch innovative products and scale their operations.
Lori’s entrepreneurial journey began early on, with her creating and patenting a plastic earring organizer in 1996 while attending Loyola University in Chicago. This innovative product caught the attention of JCPenney, who decided to carry it in their stores just before the holiday season. This initial success allowed Lori to pay off her student loans much quicker than anticipated, fueling her passion for product development and paving the way for her future endeavors.
Seeing this success, Lori decided to expand her company further. So, consumers started seeing her earring organizer on the Home Shopping Network and eventually in Bed, Bath and Beyond. Then, in 2000 she took another big step by moving to QVC and starting Clever & Unique Creations on the network, which is now one of their longest-running shows. This exposure allowed Lori to further expand her brand and reach a wider audience with her innovative products.
Lori’s expertise and success in product development have translated into her impressive track record on Shark Tank. She has made over 60 deals amounting to more than $9 million, with many of her investments becoming highly successful products. When partnering with another Shark, Lori often teams up with Mark Cuban, leveraging their complementary skills and experiences. Some of her most notable investments on the show include:
- Scrub Daddy – A innovative sponge that changes texture based on water temperature
- Bantam Bagels – Bite-sized stuffed bagel balls in various flavors
- Squatty Potty – A toilet stool designed to improve posture and facilitate easier bowel movements
- The Cup Board Pro – A cutting board with built-in compartments for food scraps and utensils
- RuffleButts and RuggedButts – Children’s clothing lines featuring ruffled bottoms and durable, outdoor-friendly designs
One of the key advantages of partnering with Lori Greiner is her hands-on approach throughout the entire process, from product development to marketing and sales. Entrepreneurs seeking an investment from Lori can expect her and her team to be highly involved and committed to ensuring the success of the venture. Her extensive experience and proven track record make her a valuable asset for businesses looking to take their products to the next level.
Mark Cuban – The Tech Mogul and Entrepreneurial Powerhouse
Probably the most well-known Shark in the Tank is Mark Cuban, and his net worth… well it’s not a small amount. It’s over $4 billion, so he definitely knows his way around business and what products or services make sense for consumers. Mark grew up in Pittsburg but his first well-known personal venture came out of when he moved to Dallas in 1982. Here, at his job, instead of opening a store as planned, he instead met with a client to gain new business. This resulted in him being fired, but it may have been one of the best things that happened to him.
What came out of that, was his company MicroSolutions. Eventually, the company grew to more than $30 million in revenue and was sold to CompuServe for $6 million, which gave Mark a $2 million pay after taxes on the deal.
Right now, outside of what he does with Shark Tank, Mark owns the Dallas Mavericks and continuously makes new business deals, even outside of Shark Tank.
Speaking of which, let’s move onto Shark Tank and what he’s all about there. If you’ve watched the show (and if you haven’t, we recommend you give it a watch), you know he comes in with some solid questions that can throw people off, but his questions are usually calculated and make sense.
In total, Mark has made 85 deals and the value of all those investments put together is a whopping $19,850,000. No joke, he’s invested a lot on some incredibly good ideas and $2,000,000 of that amount was invested into Ten Thirty One Productions, an entertainment company that creates and produces live attractions in the horror genre, for 20% of the company. By the way, if he partners with anyone, he usually partners with Robert Herjavec.
$2,000,000 might sound like a lot for that investment, but Mark knows his way around the entertainment industry. Back in the mid-90’s, Mark started Audionet, an internet radio company, with his former university classmate, Thomas Wagner. From there the company became Broadcast.com in 1998 and actually helped launch the first live-streamed Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Eventually, Yahoo! acquired Broadcast.com for $5.7 billion.
Some of his other investments on Shark Tank include:
There’s many more to list where those came from, but these are a few that turned into huge successes.
Kevin O’Leary Networth, Products, Investments
Now onto Kevin O’Leary, a controversial Dragon from Dragon’s Den turned controversial Shark. He may come across aggressive or a little too much, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s minds that he’s a Shark for a reason. He knows a good business when he sees it and his aggressive nature is all about making money and investing in the right things.
Born in Montreal, Kevin has become well-known in Canadian business and is an author. Back in the 1980’s, he co-founded SoftKey Software Products, a tech company that focuses on education and entertainment. Through the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the company acquired multiple rival companies until eventually they re-branded as The Learning Company and sold to Mattel in 1999 for $3.8 billion.
Now, Kevin has multiple projects and investments. In March 2007, he joined the advisory board of Genstar Capital, a private equity firm focused on healthcare service investments. He also co-founded O’Leary Funds Inc., a mutual fund company that focuses on global yield investing with his brother serving as a director. A few years later, in 2014, O’Leary Ventures was born after some legal issues with O’Leary Funds Inc. His new venture is a private, early-stage capital investment company.
Now, what’s he done on Shark Tank? A decent amount. In total, he’s done 40 deals and these investments have totalled $8,543,000. Most often, he partners with Robert Herjavec on deals. His largest investment was for $2.5 million for 10% of Zipz, a company that makes single serve wines in recyclable plastic stemware that actually looks and feels like real glass (season 6, episode 11).
Some of his other investments include:
There’s many more where those came from and Kevin surely won’t stop there.
Barbara Corcoran – Networth, Products, Investments
Now onto another impressive cast member who’s made waves on Shark Tank. Barbara Corcoran was born in New Jersey and through high school and college, though she says she got “straight D’s,” that didn’t stop her from being the woman she is today. Plus, there’s the proof we all needed that your marks in school absolutely do not dictate who you can be!
There’s your daily dose of inspiration.
Now onto her net worth, which is $80 million by the way. This comes from when she borrowed just $1,000 to start a small real estate business in New York City that eventually turned into the most well-known brand in the brokerage business, The Corcoran Group. Later on, she sold her business to NRT for $68 million.
Now, Barbara is a motivational speaker who frequently contributes to small business and real estate conversations on most major networks. She’s one of the longest standing Sharks and has invested in 53 deals on Shark Tank alone, but 80 in total including those outside of the show.
When Barbara’s not going in alone on a deal, she most frequently partners with Mark Cuban. More often though she does deals on her own and overall, she’s put $5,465,000 into investments on Shark Tank. Her largest investment was with Coverplay, a slipcover for children’s play areas, for 40% of the company at $350,000 (season 1, episode 4).
Some other products she’s invested in include:
Just like the other Sharks, she’s done countless other investments too, but we can’t name them all!
Daymond John – Networth, Products, Investments
Daymond John grew up in Hollis, Queens and is now a well-known businessman, investor, author and motivational speaker and now worth $250 million. At the age of 10, Daymond had his first job handing out flyers for $2 per hour and in high school he was able to join a program that let him work full-time while attending school by alternating weekly. He says this was what instilled an entrepreneurial focus in him.
What Daymond is most well-known for (outside of Shark Tank) is FUBU (For Us, By Us), the clothing brand. He started the company out of his mother’s home in Hollis where his mother supported him by not only offering up her home to grow the business, but even teaching him how to sew.
His first FUBU product? A tie-top hat in 1992 which he sold for $10. In just one day they sold $800 worth of them. After they saw the success of the hats, they started to sell tshirts and sold products on consignment and at large events. By 1994, John had received $300,000 in orders and they had to take out a second mortgage in order to fulfill orders. Luckily, after being turned down by a number of banks, they took an ad out in the NY Times and that’s when FUBU made a deal with Samsung Textiles, allowing them to complete all their orders.
There was even the time that LL Cool J snuck FUBU into a Gap Commercial.
Now, FUBU has earned over $6 billion in global sales.
Daymond has also been an incredible part of the Shark Tank cast as he’s made 61 deals in total that add up to a total of $8,567,000 worth of investments. Nearly half of his deals made are with a partner, and most often those partners are either Mark Cuban or Robert Herjavec. His largest investment? It was $500,000 for 50% of Hells Bells Helmets (season 1, episode 11).
He’s invested in a number of others while on Shark Tank, including:
On top of being on the Shark Tank cast, he is also the founder and CEO of The Shark Group which is a brand management and consulting firm in Manhattan.
Robert Herjavec – Networth, Products, Investments
Last, but most definitely not least, Robert Herjavec, who is also pretty impressive to say the least. At a net worth of $200 million, this Shark Tank cast member knows a few business tricks. Born in Croatia, his family decided to move to Canada when he was 8 years old. Fastforward to years later and Robert founded BRAK Systems, which is a Canadian integrator of Internet security software. Later, in 2000 he sold the company for $30.2 million.
Just a few years later, in 2003, he founded The Herjavec Group, one of Canada’s largest information tech and computer security companies. Their annual revenue is $200 million.
Prior to Shark Tank, Robert was again, another cast member on Dragon’s Den making some pretty incredible deals up in Canada. We’re not here for his Dragon’s Den stats though, we’re here to hear about how he’s made 57 deals on Shark Tank which have a grand total of $16,598,333 worth of investment dollars.
Yes you heard that right, and yes, that’s a lot of money.
The tech mogul’s largest deal has been with Zero Pollution Motors, where he invested $5,000,000 for 50% of the company (season 6, episode 27). However, after the show, that deal fell through since Zero Pollution Motors didn’t have the rights across North America that they needed.
His next largest deal after that one that didn’t fall through was with SynDaver Labs for $3,000,000 at 25% of the company. On top of these two, Robert has also invested in:
So, now that we’ve given you a quick rundown on all the regular cast members on Shark Tank, what’s next? Well, that’s up to you. Will you be one of the next entrepreneurs in front of the Sharks?
No matter if you decide to give it a try or to just put it on hold for a while, it’s always great to save time and make your business more efficient whether or not you’re ready. Thankfully, there’s a pretty easy way to optimize your customer support tickets and process, with Gorgias.
