Who's the Richest Shark on 'Shark Tank'?
ABC’s Shark Tank, which first premiered in August 2009, is still going strong 14 years later. Although the cast has shuffled around a bit, the concept remains the same: In each episode, entrepreneurs have the chance to pitch their business to a team of “sharks”—who, while intimidating, are really just ultra-wealthy (human) investors.
The show is a spinoff of a Japanese program called The Tigers of Money, which turned into a U.K. show called Dragons’ Den and eventually made its way to the U.S., assuming the shark moniker.
“When the show finally aired, very few people watched it,” investor Daymond John, aka "The People’s Shark," wrote on his website. “Just when it seemed like the show was on the verge of being canceled, a change in power occurred at the network. [...] In season two we got some help, as Jeff Foxworthy and Mark Cuban joined as guest sharks for a few episodes each. Their appearances brought more awareness to the show, and Shark Tank began to gain a little bit of momentum.”
Clearly, the changes were successful, as reality TV fans and business geeks alike tune in season after season to watch the sharks.
Here’s what there is to know about Season 15 of Shark Tank and its cast of investors so far.
Will there be a Season 15 of Shark Tank?
In mid-May, before the Season 14 finale, ABC announced that there will be a season 15 of Shark Tank.
What is the Shark Tank Season 15 release date?
There has been no official release date announced for Shark Tank Season 15. However, it is part of ABC’s 2023 fall lineup, so viewers can likely expect it in September or October, depending on how filming goes.
While the jury’s out for Season 15, past production hasn’t always been the easiest on investors. Shark Robert Herjavec told Insider that Season 7 took just 17 days to film, but each day was a grueling 12 hours. "We're cold, we're hungry, we're miserable," he said.
Barbara Corcoran, along with fellow shark Lori Greiner, had the added discomfort of wearing high heels on set and keeping her legs crossed. The real-estate mogul mentioned to Insider that she sometimes squeezes her leg to keep it from falling asleep.
Who are the Shark Tank Season 15 investors?
Not much has been revealed about Shark Tank’s upcoming season, but per the ABC.com cast list, viewers can probably expect to see the full Season 14 cast of investors back on Season 15. This includes:
Barbara Corcoran
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Barbara Corcoran, a real-estate icon, founded her real estate firm The Corcoran Group with a $1,000 loan in 1973. She went on to sell it for $66 million in 2001. An original cast member on Shark Tank, Corcoran has invested in more than 80 businesses, is the author of a bestselling book and hosts the podcast Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran.
Related: Barbara Corcoran Highlights Best Shark Tank Investment to Date
Mark Cuban
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Mark Cuban is the only billionaire on Shark Tank. Joining the show in its second season, he’s since become one of the most popular sharks and a household name. Cuban made his money in tech, selling his company Broadcast.com for $5.7 billion in 1999. The next year, he bought a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks and has turned the team into one of the NBA’s most successful franchises. Cuban also founded Costplusdrugs.com, and invests in many other companies through his venture capital firm.
Related: Why Mark Cuban Is Going After Shark Tank Scams and How to Avoid Them
Lori Greiner
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Lori Greiner is perhaps the best fit for Shark Tank, as she built her reputation (and bank account) on inventing retail products. Over her career, Greiner has created and marketed 1,000-plus products and holds 120 patents. On the show, she boasts a 90% success rate on new items launched and is known for picking diverse investments. Greiner is also a bestselling author and sought-after speaker.
Robert Herjavec
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Robert Herjavec is a prolific tech millionaire who’s founded and sold several IT companies. In 2003 he created Herjavec Group, an information security company that’s grown into a global leader. Apart from providing cybersecurity intel to both the U.S. and Canadian governments, Herjavec has also written two bestselling books.
Daymond John
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Daymond John, another original shark (alongside Corcoran, Herjavec and O’Leary), is a well-known branding expert. In 1992 he founded FUBU, a hip hop apparel company that made him a millionaire. Today, John helps other businesses grow into brands through his work with consulting firm The Shark Group.
Kevin O’Leary
ABC/Richard Middlesworth
Kevin O’Leary is the founder of several mega-successful businesses, including ‘90s tech star SoftKey, which Mattel acquired for $4.2 billion in ‘99. He uses his business knowledge to oversee the O’Leary Financial Group. Through his VC firm, O’Leary Ventures, he invests in companies across many sectors. O’Leary also co-hosted Discovery Channel’s Project Earth and is a regular CNBC contributor.
Who is the richest investor on Shark Tank?
The richest Shark Tank investor by far is billionaire Mark Cuban. With a portfolio that includes the Dallas Mavericks, Costplusdrugs.com and AXS TV, Cuban has an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, per Forbes.
The next-richest shark is businessman Kevin O’Leary, with a reported net worth of about $400 million.
How to watch Shark Tank Season 15
Shark Tank has called ABC home for every one of its 14 seasons, and will stay with the network for its upcoming 15th. Although no official release date has been announced, according to ABC’s fall schedule the show will air at 8 p.m. ET on Fridays.
Viewers without cable can stream the show live on Hulu, DIRECTV, YouTube TV and fuboTV, with live TV subscriptions. They can also watch some episodes of Shark Tank for free on the ABC website or app. Otherwise, it’s available for purchase (although only after airing) on Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV/iTunes, Vudu and Google Play.
Where to watch past seasons of Shark Tank
The sharks may be most accessible to Hulu subscribers, who can easily watch all 14 Shark Tank seasons on the platform. Full episodes and seasons can also be purchased on Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu and Google Play.
However, if you’re not a full-blown addict, you can watch the most recent Shark Tank episodes completely free on the ABC website and app. Right now that includes five episodes from Season 14.
How do you get on Shark Tank?
It is notoriously difficult to be featured as an entrepreneur on Shark Tank. Although the show has been hosting casting calls for its upcoming 15th season—a process that was put on pause for three years due to the pandemic—it’s still no easy feat to get a shot with the sharks.
In 2019, USA Today reported that Shark Tank receives an average of 35,000 to 40,000 applicants each season. Around 1,000 advance to the second stage from there, and in Season 10, just 158 pitches were filmed. What’s worse—pitching a shark doesn’t even guarantee you your TV glamour shot. Of the 158 pitches, only 88 were aired.
If you’re still determined to get on the show, there is an application process. You can apply online or attend an open call in person, where you’ll give a one-minute pitch to a member of the casting team. Be advised: There final casting call for season 15, hosted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was Monday, July 17.