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Mark Cuban
United States
Net Worth
$5.2B
Source of Wealth
Broadcast.com, Dallas Mavericks, Cost Plus Drugs, Shark Tank
Global Rank
#159 of 157
About Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and media personality who built his fortune through a combination of technology, sports, entertainment, and healthcare disruption. Born on July 31, 1958, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cuban grew up in a working-class family — his father upholstered car seats and his mother worked odd jobs.
Cuban's breakthrough came in 1999 when he sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in what was then the largest e-commerce transaction in history. He famously hedged his Yahoo stock with collar trades, preserving his fortune when the dot-com bubble burst and Yahoo's stock cratered. That single decision separated him from dozens of dot-com millionaires who lost everything.
He purchased the Dallas Mavericks in 2000 for $285 million and transformed the perennially losing franchise into an NBA championship team in 2011. His hands-on, player-first approach revolutionized how NBA owners engaged with their teams. He later sold a majority stake in the Mavericks in 2023, with the team valued at over $4 billion.
As a star investor on ABC's Shark Tank for over a decade, Cuban backed hundreds of startups and became one of the most recognizable business personalities in America. In 2022, he launched Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs, an online pharmacy that sells generic medications at cost plus a flat 15% markup, directly challenging the opaque pricing of the pharmaceutical industry.
Cuban is known for his accessibility, his willingness to engage in public debates, and his belief that effort and preparation beat pedigree every time.
Key Achievements
Broadcast.com: $5.7 Billion Exit
Co-founded AudioNet (later Broadcast.com) with Todd Wagner and sold it to Yahoo in 1999 for $5.7 billion — at the time, the largest e-commerce transaction in history.
Dallas Mavericks Championship
Bought the struggling Dallas Mavericks for $285 million in 2000 and transformed them into NBA champions in 2011. His player-first culture and willingness to spend redefined franchise ownership.
Cost Plus Drugs Revolution
Launched Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs in 2022, an online pharmacy selling generics at cost plus a 15% markup. The company disrupted pharmaceutical pricing and made life-saving medications affordable for millions.
Shark Tank: A Decade of Deals
Appeared as a lead investor on ABC's Shark Tank for over 10 seasons, investing in hundreds of startups and becoming one of the most accessible billionaires in America.
Dot-Com Bust Survivor
After the Broadcast.com sale, Cuban used collar trades to hedge his Yahoo stock, preserving billions when the dot-com bubble burst. Most of his peers lost everything — Cuban kept his fortune intact.
Notable Quotes
“It doesn't matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once.”
— Mark Cuban
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it away from you.”
— Mark Cuban
“Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is.”
— Mark Cuban
“Everyone has got the will to win; it's only those with the will to prepare that do win.”
— Mark Cuban
“It's not about money or connections — it's the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business.”
— Mark Cuban
Key Decisions
Moved to Dallas after college with no job and no plan, bartending and selling software to survive.
Fired from his job at a computer software retailer for closing a deal instead of opening the store — decided to never work for anyone again.
Founded MicroSolutions, a computer consulting firm, which he grew and sold to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990.
Co-founded AudioNet with Todd Wagner, streaming Indiana University basketball games over the internet — one of the earliest live-streaming companies.
Renamed AudioNet to Broadcast.com and took it public; the stock doubled on its first day of trading.
Sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock, then hedged the Yahoo shares with collar trades to lock in gains.
Purchased the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million. The team had won just 40% of its games over the previous two decades.
Co-founded HDNet (later AXS TV), one of the first high-definition television networks.
The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship, defeating LeBron James's Miami Heat in six games.
Joined ABC's Shark Tank as a regular investor, eventually backing over 200 companies.
Launched Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs, selling generic medications at radical transparency pricing — cost plus 15% plus a $3-$5 pharmacy fee.
Sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family, valuing the team at approximately $3.5 billion.
Early Life
Mark Cuban was born on July 31, 1958, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a working-class family. His father, Norton Cuban, upholstered car seats, and his mother, Shirley, worked various jobs. Cuban showed entrepreneurial instincts early — at age 12, he sold garbage bags door-to-door to earn money for a pair of basketball shoes. He attended the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University, where he graduated from the Kelley School of Business in 1981. After college, he moved to Dallas with no job and no connections, bartending and sleeping on the floor of a three-bedroom apartment shared with five other guys.
Companies & Ventures
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Founder · Est. 2022
Online pharmacy that sells generic medications at cost plus a flat 15% markup, plus a small pharmacy fee. The radical transparency model has disrupted the pharmaceutical industry and forced incumbents to justify their pricing.
Dallas Mavericks (former majority owner)
$4B+Former Owner & Governor · Est. 2000 (acquisition)
Purchased the Mavericks for $285 million and sold a majority stake for roughly $3.5 billion — a 12x return. Transformed the franchise from a laughingstock into a championship team and cultural force.
Broadcast.com (acquired by Yahoo)
Co-Founder · Est. 1995
One of the first internet streaming companies, originally called AudioNet. Pioneered live audio and video streaming on the web before broadband was mainstream.
MicroSolutions
Founder · Est. 1983
Computer consulting and software reselling company that Cuban founded after being fired from his retail job. Grew it to $30 million in revenue before selling to CompuServe for $6 million.
Investment Principles
Go Big on What You Know
Cuban only invests in businesses and industries he deeply understands. When he doesn't know a space, he does the work to learn it before committing capital.
Be Hands-On
Don't just write checks — get involved. Cuban answers emails from Shark Tank founders, shows up at Mavericks practices, and personally reviews Cost Plus Drugs operations.
Technology Creates Opportunity
Every major shift in technology creates a new generation of winners. Cuban rode the internet wave with Broadcast.com and now sees AI and transparency as the next frontiers.
Be Willing to Look Stupid
The best opportunities are the ones that other people think are crazy. Cuban's willingness to be mocked for streaming audio in 1995 or selling cheap drugs in 2022 has been his edge.
Protect Your Downside
After selling Broadcast.com, Cuban hedged his Yahoo stock with collar trades instead of riding the bubble. Protecting what you've earned is just as important as making it.
Life Lessons & Insights
Effort Beats Pedigree
Cuban didn't come from money or connections. He worked as a bartender, got fired from a retail job, and built his first company from nothing. His edge was always outworking everyone else.
You Only Have to Be Right Once
Cuban failed at multiple businesses before Broadcast.com. MicroSolutions was a modest exit. But one massive win — Broadcast.com — changed everything. The lesson: keep swinging.
Hedge Your Wins
When Broadcast.com sold for $5.7 billion in Yahoo stock, Cuban didn't ride the bubble. He used financial instruments to lock in his gains. Dozens of dot-com millionaires lost everything; Cuban didn't.
Challenge Broken Systems
Cost Plus Drugs wasn't just a business — it was a statement that the pharmaceutical pricing system is fundamentally broken. Cuban proved that one person with resources and will can take on an entire industry.
Stay Accessible
Despite being worth billions, Cuban answers his own email, engages on social media, and makes himself available to entrepreneurs. Accessibility is a competitive advantage, not a burden.
Philanthropy
Cuban has donated tens of millions to causes including healthcare access, education, and veteran support. His most impactful philanthropic effort is arguably Cost Plus Drugs itself, which operates on razor-thin margins to make life-saving medications affordable. He has also supported the Fallen Patriot Fund for families of U.S. military personnel killed or injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has made significant contributions to Indiana University, his alma mater.
Deep Dives
Go deeper into what makes Mark Cuban exceptional.
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