Marc Cuban’s return for Season 17 of Shark Tank seems uncertain.
People reported via an ‘All The Smoke’ podcast, where Cuban was a guest, that the 65-year-old businessman is ready to leave the world of Shark Tank after Season 16 concludes. He reveals, “This is our 15th year, and next year, our 16th year, is gonna be my last year,” adding, “So I got one more year to go.”
He reiterates to the hosts of the podcast, Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, that it feels like “it’s time” to leave the show since his commemoration as a guest all the way back in Season 2 and then solidifying his presence full-time from Season 3. People reported that his departure has not yet been announced by the ABC network.
Cuban explained his gratitude towards the show, saying, “I love it because it sends the message the American dream is alive and well,” adding, “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,” he continued saying, “That’s what happens, right? Now we’ve got people coming on saying I watched you when I was 10 years old. I’m like, f—. But we’re helping them, right? I’ve invested in, I don’t know how many hundreds of companies.”
Cuban then proceeded to share his lessons as a Shark from the show, stating, “The harder they have to try to sell, the worse the deal,” adding, “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 motherf—ing entrepreneur,” adding, “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.”
People then reported Cuban specifying the exact thing he is searching for, where he states, “I look for ideas [where I’m] like, ‘Damn, why didn’t I think of that?'”
People reported that this is not the first time Cuban has uttered about possibly leaving Shark Tank. Last year, the investor told People, “I committed to come back for season 15 next year,” adding, “But after that, you know, I don’t know yet.” Cuban continued, “And it’s not cause I don’t love the show. I absolutely love the show,” adding, “I love what it represents. I love that kids watch it. And now we have entrepreneurs coming on that started watching when they were 12, 13, 14 years old.”
He further admitted to People how spending time with his family, including daughters Alyssa and Alexis and son Jake, precedes any show or duty, saying, “My daughter’s in college now … when they were all in high school, all their schedules aligned. And so it was really easy to do the show,” adding, “But now, you know, family first, always. And so I wanted to try to make sure I spent as much time with my daughter as I can, and my family as I can.”
Catch the Shark Tank on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.