After 15 seasons of deals, pitches, and memorable moments, Mark Cuban has officially exited ABC's "Shark Tank". His final episode as a Shark investor aired on May 16, 2025, marking the end of an era for the show. Cuban first appeared as a guest shark in season 2 in 2011 before becoming a full-time Shark in season 3. He announced his departure in November 2023 during an appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast, stating that season 16 would be his last. "This is our 15th year, and next year, our 16th year, is gonna be my last year," Cuban said. "So I got one more year to go ... It's time".
Cuban has cited a desire to spend more time with his family, particularly his teenage and young adult children, Alexis, Alyssa, and Jake, as a primary reason for leaving. He explained that the show's filming schedule in June and September conflicted with important family time. "When they were young it was like, 'Okay, we're going to wait for Dad.' Now that they're teenagers, they aren't waiting for Dad at all, and in September they've just gotten back to school. I want to be there for that," Cuban told PEOPLE. He wants to be home for his wife, son's, and oldest daughter's birthdays.
Cuban reflected on his time on "Shark Tank" with fondness. "This show changed me," Cuban said during his final episode. "I think I changed the show, and I think we all together as sharks, changed America". Daymond John noted that Cuban joined when the show was "on the chopping block" and that Cuban didn't hesitate because he felt the show was educating and inspiring America's kids and families. In a behind-the-scenes video, Cuban expressed how quickly his 15 years on the show went by. “Three pitches left. How insane is that?” he said. “I mean, that's just the craziest thing ever. 15 years … it's been a good run,”.
While Cuban is stepping away from "Shark Tank", he is not retiring from the business world. He plans to dedicate more time to Cost Plus Drugs, his affordable pharmaceutical company co-founded in 2022. Additionally, Cuban is reportedly joining a $750 million private equity fund, Harbinger Sports Partners Fund, focused on investing in small stakes of professional sports teams in the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Cuban owned the Mavericks for 23 years before selling his majority stake to the family of Miriam Adelson, and currently maintains a 27% ownership stake.
As for a direct replacement on "Shark Tank," executive producer Clay Newbill stated that Mark Cuban is irreplaceable. However, Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Snacks, has been promoted to a permanent seat on the panel. Lubetzky has appeared as a guest shark for five seasons. “It's an honor to be part of a production that continues to educate, entertain, and unite Americans behind the spirit of building together,” Lubetzky said.
Looking ahead, Cuban hasn't ruled out a potential return to reality TV, though he considers it unlikely. "Maybe after my kids are all out of school I'll come on and raise hell again — but I doubt it," Cuban told PEOPLE. He still has to follow up with the companies he invested in, so he plans to visit and provide updates. In the meantime, he's looking forward to vacations with his children. Cuban said he had "no second thoughts at all" about his decision to leave, emphasizing that it wasn't about the show, but rather the time investment.
