A company called Dino Don makes animatronics of life-size dinosaurs. Don Lessem and his spouse, Valerie Jones are the founders. Their goal is to exhibit their dinosaurs in museums and zoos. This will help children’s dinosaur education. Dino Don made an appearance in season 12 of Shark Tank. They requested $500,000 for a 10% stake in their business.
Don brought along a few of his closest companions from the dinosaur world. Sharks were fascinated by dinosaurs but had doubts about the industry. Will the entrepreneur get a deal on Shark Tank? Check out our Dino Don update to find out!
Dino Don Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Don Lessem and Valerie Jones asked for a $500k investment in exchange for 10% equity in their company. This meant they valued their company at $5 million. They made a deal with Mark Cuban for $500k in exchange for 25% of their company. This new deal valued their company at $2 million. After the show aired, Dino Don saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. With an estimated 10% yearly growth rate (typical business growth), the current net worth of Dino Don is about $2.93 million.
Following the show’s broadcast, Dino Don achieved great success. The business currently brings in more than $4 million annually. Hundreds of new robots have been added since their Shark Tank debut, including dragons and ice-age creatures in addition to dinosaurs. They also produced a mobile dinosaur exhibit.
It enables them to move dinosaurs to various locations throughout several nations. They were able to enhance the technical and operational features of their robots thanks to Mark’s funding. Dinosaurs are now more lifelike because they use specialized motion control technology. Dino Don’s shows increase attendance at museums and zoos by fifteen to fifty percent, making him a global hit. The business is still operating and expanding quickly.
Dino Don did in fact land a deal on Shark Tank. 25% of their company was offered to them for 500,000 dollars by Mark Cuban. Don and Valerie were thrilled to collaborate with Mark Cuban and accepted the opportunity. He expressed interest in their idea and a desire to see them succeed. They think having him on board will expand their audience and improve their business plan. Dino Don has a lot of fresh opportunities thanks to the deal.
| Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
| Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Kevin O’Leary | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Robert Herjavec | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Mark Cuban | $500,000 for 25% equity | N/A | Yes |
Dino Don Shark Tank pitch
Dinosaurs are Don Lessem and Valerie Jones’s passion. Don’s relationship with dinosaurs is lengthy. He was the original Jurassic Park film’s science advisor. He managed the world’s largest dinosaur fossil digs as well. Don is a dinosaur author of more than forty books. He was motivated to make animatronic models of these species by his enthusiasm for them. His interest is shared by Valerie. She assists in running the company.
The couple started out with a lot of difficulties. Funding was required in order to build their robots and promote their business. They faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic as well. This made running zoos difficult. The pair put a lot of effort into solving these problems. They created a gate-sharing program to help zoos earn money by displaying their dinosaurs.
Don and Valerie arrived at Shark Tank grinning broadly. They displayed their life-sized dinosaur robots and demonstrated how lifelike they seemed and behaved. The couple gave a description of their company plan. They informed the sharks that the dinosaurs could be rented out to museums and zoos.
They described how they could support these establishments in boosting the number of visitors.
They requested $500,000 in exchange for 10% ownership. The sharks paid close attention, but they had doubts about the numbers. They were curious, but they also needed more details about their earnings and sales. The pair discussed their struggles as well as their achievements.
The sharks asked a lot of questions regarding the animatronic dinosaurs. They wanted to know how much it cost to make each one to which Don replied that it costs roughly $5,000. They also wanted to know how the company intended to generate revenue. Don suggested that for special events, zoos and museums may rent out the dinosaurs.
The sharks were interested in the business plan; they wanted to know how frequently the dinosaurs would be in demand. Don clarified that the outlets that use their robots see a significant increase in customer traffic. The sharks talked among themselves. They thought the idea was good but they were concerned about the numbers.
The shark with the most interest was Mark Cuban. He thought the idea was fantastic and saw the business’s potential. He thought that dinosaurs would draw large crowds to zoos and museums. He offered $500,000 in exchange for a 25% stake in the business. This was a very kind offer. There were no bids from the other sharks. They weren’t entirely convinced.
According to Kevin O’Leary, Don appeared chaotic and lacked confidence in Daymond’s performance. John believed he couldn’t improve the company. Lori Greiner felt that the presentation lacked depth. She made the choice not to make an investment. Robert Herjavec agreed to Mark’s offer but decided to leave at this point as well. Mark’s offer was accepted by Don and Valerie.
What Went Wrong With Dino Don On Shark Tank?
The other sharks declined to invest, citing a variety of reasons, but Don and Valerie struck a deal. They were concerned about expenses and the potential growth of the business, and they weren’t confident about the figures Don had presented. Kevin O’Leary referred to the presentation as chaotic.
Daymond John believed he could not support the company’s expansion.
According to Lori Greiner, the pitch failed to accurately represent the company’s potential. Robert Herjavec pulled back, stating that he agreed to Mark’s generous offer. Even though they struck a bargain, the other sharks did not respond as they had intended.
Product Availability
Rentable life-size animatronic dinosaurs are available from Dino Don. They also feature a variety of creatures and animals from the Ice Age. The characteristics of the dinosaurs are incredible and they are quite lifelike. Customers can purchase the company’s animatronics via its website.
They can also discover more about dinosaurs and their future trip destinations. The cost varies based on the products and rental options available. All the information required for researching these incredible robots is available on the website.
Conclusion
Since making an appearance on Shark Tank, Dino Don, and Valerie have gone far in their businesses. They are now generating millions of dollars and have increased the variety of dinosaur products they provide. The agreement with Mark Cuban has given them a lot of opportunities. Their traveling shows are growing their fan base.
Dino Don keeps developing and adjusting to new situations. We may anticipate fascinating developments from them in the future as they are set to become more well-known in the animatronics industry.
Hi, I’m Laiba Khurram, a BBA student specializing in Marketing at FAST NUCES ISB. My background includes experience in finance, marketing, and event coordination. My skills include teamwork, time management, and Microsoft tools. Watching Shark Tank has always inspired me, as I admire the innovative pitches and entrepreneurial spirit showcased on the show. This passion drives my approach to finding creative solutions and understanding market dynamics. Read more About me.
