Mark Cuban spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about his final day on Shark Tank after 15 years on the ABC reality show, and revealed what he’ll “miss more than anything” about it ahead of his last episode.
The businessman recalled the emotions he felt when the cameras stopped rolling, and reminisced about the people who made the show so special over his decade-plus years on the show.
Cuban explained how Shark Tank took his “celebrity” to another level, expanding his status beyond businessman to a prominent notable figure worldwide.
Here’s the deal.
Mark Cuban’s final episode on Shark Tank is on the horizon after a memorable 15 years on ABC’s long-running show, so PEOPLE caught up with the Shark himself eight months after the cameras stopped rolling to reminisce about his last day on set.
After countless pitches, notable investments, memorable interactions, successful deals — and undoubtedly, lots of math — emotions were mixed for the businessman who solidified his status as a show staple since becoming a regular Shark in 2011, but his decision to depart was clear.
Ahead of his final episode premiering on Friday, May 16, Cuban tells PEOPLE exclusively that he felt “some closure and readiness to move on” when filming the Shark Tank episode on Sept. 18 last year. Above all, however, he felt “a lot of sadness” about leaving everyone involved in making the reality series the success that it is today.
“Less because of the show itself and more because of the people I’ll miss,” he explains of the feeling, noting, “Our crew from Sharks to PAs to producers are incredible to work with and to know. That’s who I will miss more than anything.”
Related: 18 Shark Tank Rules You Didn’t Know Entrepreneurs Have to Follow (Exclusive)
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Mark Cuban on Shark Tank
Cuban has starred alongside fellow Shark Kevin O’Leary on Shark Tank since season 3, which aired in 2012. The two have been joined by mainstays Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner in the years that followed.
Despite the emotions he felt on the final day of filming, Cuban tells PEOPLE that he had “no second thoughts at all” about reversing his decision to depart. He made clear that it wasn’t about the production itself, but rather the time investment.
“Shooting the show is easy and fun. I actually love the shooting part of it,” he explains. “But it’s a lot of time, and even more time to work with all the companies I invest in… For those entrepreneurs, it’s their entire lives.”
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Mark Cuban and his fellow Sharks on “Shark Tank”
“Once a deal closes, I have to do what we can to give them a chance to make their American Dream come true,” he continues. “That’s a huge commitment intellectually, time wise and emotionally. I was ready to commit that time to my family and Cost Plus Drugs.”
Today, Cuban is a highly successful entrepreneur and investor with an expansive portfolio of businesses and self-started, industry-changing organizations. While he’s been hustling his entire life, his decade-plus years on Shark Tank changed his businessman persona in a way he never expected.
“It took my celebrity to a completely different level,” he tells PEOPLE. “I went from being a sports guy to celebrities telling me how much they loved me and the show, asking for business advice and investments.”
Related: Mark Cuban Announces His Plan to Exit Shark Tank After Season 16: ‘It’s Time’
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Mark Cuban on “Shark Tank”
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He adds, “And to be recognized everywhere I went, here in the USA and wherever shark tank played globally. It completely changed my life.”
Cuban announced his departure from Shark Tank in November 2023, revealing on the All the Smoke podcast that he would not be returning to the ABC series after season 16. A focus on family was the main reason why he chose to step away.
“My kids are teenagers and I want to spend more time with them,” he said, noting how he was most looking forward to “vacations” with his children after his departure. “We always shoot in June and September, and in June, right when they’re finishing school, I have to come here.”
“When they were young it was like, ‘Okay, we’re going to wait for Dad’,” he explained. “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.”
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Mark Cuban’s final episode of Shark Tank premieres on Friday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It streams on Hulu the next day.
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