It’s common for Shark Tank investors to walk away from a pitch, but there’s one so captivating to Mark Cuban that he’s considering leaving the hit show, itself, for it.
In an exclusive Forbes profile, the entrepreneur sat down and spoke about his biggest gambles and his trajectory from Pittsburgh native to Dallas-based billionaire. His notable on-screen investments span Simple Sugars to Tower Paddle Boards, but his recent endeavor includes a giant leap forward into the world of pharmaceuticals.
So, the deal that’s worth jumping ship for? Cost Plus Drugs. In fact, the TV personality is even considering stepping away from the ABC show that launched him into public notoriety. “Part of me wants to quit,” he told the outlet. “They’ll survive fine without me.”
In January 2022, Mark unveiled his fully realized Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC), a business model that changes the current model of the pharmaceutical industry and offers Americans significant savings on necessary treatment. He previously explained that the concept is an “opportunity” to disrupt the prescription drug industry.
Despite a slew of Shark Tank wins and losses, it’s the first company he’s ever attached his name to. According to Forbes, he has invested close to $100 million so far, but he’s willing to spend “whatever it takes.” If it weren’t clear that he’s all in though, Mark called the project “legacy-defining.” He added, “If we get this right, this will be the most impactful thing I’ve ever done.”
It’s not the first time he’s addressed his future on the show. During a “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” interview on CNN, the investor said the showrunners made him “promise” he’d return for at least one more season. “After that, I don’t know,” he admitted to the outlet.
When asked about the pharmacy being his reason for leaving Shark Tank, the star also cited wanting to spend quality time with his daughter — whom he shares with wife Tiffany.
“It’s not so much Cost Plus Drugs as it is having a daughter who just went away to college,” Mark told CNN. “It used to be, when they were all in high school and went to the same two schools, all of our schedules could be worked out together. But it was more a question of wanting to spend more time with my family.”
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She’s a graduate of the University of Florida’s School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.