Shark Tank Season 16 continues to focus on the journey of aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their thrilling business ideas to a number of investors. While fans were eagerly anticipating the show’s fresh season, they were left shocked when one of the popular sharks, Mark Cuban, announced his exit from the show. So, why is Mark Cuban leaving Shark Tank after Season 16?
Here is everything to know about the businessman’s departure from the popular reality show.
Why Mark Cuban is leaving Shark Tank, explained
Mark Cuban is leaving Shark Tank to focus on his personal life.
Cuban joined the show as a guest shark in Season 2 in 2011. He became a full-time investor in Season 3. However, the businessman has decided to quit the reality show. Cuban announced his plans to depart Shark Tank in November 2023 on the All the Smoke podcast. He stated, “This is our 15th year, and next year, our 16th year, is gonna be my last year, so I got one more year to go.”
In his October 2024 interview with The Wrap, Cuban revealed the reason behind his departure from the show. He stated that he is exiting Shark Tank “to spend more time” with his kids, who are teenagers now.
The 66-year-old further added that when his kids were younger, he and his wife used to tell them “where to be and when.” However, he added, “they ain’t listening to us.” Cuban also mentioned, “We shoot in June and September, and just getting the opportunity now when they’re getting out of school to be able to spend time directly with them, that’s important. I’m tired of missing that.”
Additionally, in an interview with PEOPLE, Cuban opened up on the things he will miss the most about the show. He revealed, “The deals are always out there, but I’ll miss the people, and I’ll miss having an impact just from the show itself because we send a message every day that the American dream is alive and well.”
Originally reported by Ritika Singh on ComingSoon.
