20/20 - David Muir and Elizabeth Vargas interview the cast of Walt Disney Television via Getty Images's "Shark Tank," airing on a special edition of "20/20," Friday, February 24, 2017 on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Photo by Jeff Neira/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MARK CUBAN, DAYMOND JOHN, KEVIN O'LEARY, BARBARA CORCORAN, ROBERT HERJAVEC
After more than ten years of accepting and rejecting investments, Mark Cuban is planning his last “I’m out.” The millionaire recently revealed he won’t be returning to ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ after the next season is over.
Cuban shared his exit plans with former pro-ballers Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on their Showtime podcast ‘All The Smoke.’ In the episode released on Nov. 21, Mark said “it’s time” to move on.
For context, ‘Shark Tank’ is currently seven episodes into season 15. He doesn’t plan to return for season 17.
Mark Cuban first appeared on the show during season two, which aired in 2011 from March to May. A year later, the Dallas Mavericks owner became a permanent investor in the series. His verbal tussles with other sharks and his enthusiasm for business owners who know their stuff imprinted the series.
“I love it because it sends the message the American dream is alive and well,” Mark Cuban said. “I feel like in doing ‘Shark Tank’ all these years, we’ve 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, it’s going to inspire generations of kids. That’s what happens, right?”
After hundreds of investments and years of inspiring entrepreneurs across the US, Mark seemingly feels the show has achieved its goals.
“Now we’ve got people coming on saying I watched you when I was 10 years old. I’m like, f*ck,” Mark continued. “But we’re helping them, right? I’ve invested in, I don’t know how many hundreds of companies. On a cash basis, I’m down a little bit, but on mark to market meeting, the companies are still in operation. I’m way up.”
According to Deadline, ABC has not confirmed Cuban’s pending departure. However, the outlet cited a source who claimed Cuban has mentioned leaving before.
He didn’t share much about what’s next after closing the ‘Shark Tank’ chapter. Cuban also didn’t specify if he might return to the series as a guest from season 17 onward.
However, he explained his secret sauce for picking investments in the last decade.
Cuban looks for business ideas that make him ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Second, he pays close attention to an entrepreneur’s body language and opening statements during a pitch.
“I just listen to them. You can just tell. Body language matters, the harder they have to try to sell, the worse the deal … when someone walks in ‘Shark Tank,’ you can tell if they are trying too hard,” Mark Cuban said. “I have this rule: the longer the back story, the worse the deal. The minute you start telling me how hard it was for you, it’s hard for every motherf*cking entrepreneur, tell me about your business, tell me why you are going to be successful.”
