Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban is an entrepreneur, investor, television personality, and philanthropist. Cuban's business journey began with ventures as diverse as selling garbage bags to running newspapers during a strike. His skill set was honed at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He later founded two successful companies, MicroSolutions and Broadcast.com, both of which he sold at substantial profits. His investments span various industries, including technology, media, sports, and entertainment. In 2022, Cuban entered the healthcare industry and co-founded Cost Plus Drug Company, which aims to lower the prices of generic drugs for end consumers in the United States by removing the middlemen.

After selling Broadcast.com to Yahoo! in 1999 for $5.7 billion, Cuban ventured into the entertainment industry, co-owning 2929 Entertainment and co-founding AXS TV (formerly HDNet), the first high-definition satellite television network. His involvement with ABC Television led to the production of the reality series "The Benefactor" in 2004. Yet, his most recognized television role has been as the leading "shark" on the ABC reality television series "Shark Tank." In this role, Cuban has invested in 85 deals across 111 Shark Tank episodes, totaling $19.9 million. His presence has boosted the show's ratings and contributed to it winning four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. Cuban's investments extend beyond television, with stakes in a variety of industries, from file-sharing company RedSwoosh to high-tech toilet seat startup Brondell Inc.

Cuban's business acumen has made him a prominent figure in the NBA, where he served as the owner and face of the Dallas Mavericks for over 20 years and celebrated victory in the 2011 NBA Championship. In 2024, Cuban announced he had sold the majority stake of the team and now maintains a 27% ownership stake in the Mavs and remains in control of basketball operations. Giving up his majority stake stems from Cuban's desire to put more energy into Cost Plus Drugs.

Cuban's entrepreneurial spirit is complemented by his philanthropic efforts and political commentary. His philanthropic work includes creating the Fallen Patriot Fund to support families of U.S. military personnel killed or injured during the Iraq War. Also known for his political commentary, Cuban has endorsed figures like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in previous U.S. presidential elections.