Shark Tank Statistics: Which Shark Has Invested The Most?

I have compiled the total number of deals that each Shark has struck and the total investment they have made. The figures are calculated using various statistical methods, so slight variance might occur.

While Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner have built a reputation as the most open-minded and frequent investors, stats show that their fellow Sharks—like Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran—boast higher actual deal-closing rates.

The reality behind the numbers is that about 73% of on-screen deals fall through after further due diligence off-camera, either due to inflated numbers or misaligned goals.

Total investment: $135.4 million

The figures below represent the individual totals each “Shark Tank” panelist has personally invested in entrepreneurial ventures on the show. Here is how these lifetime on-screen investment totals break down for each investor:

1. Mark Cuban: $36.60 million
2. Robert Herjavec: $24.39 million
3. Lori Greiner: $22.18 million
4. Kevin O’Leary: $20.50 million
5. Daymond John: $19.38 million
6. Barbara Corcoran: $12.30 million

Who Has Invested The Most On Shark Tank

Mark Cuban

• Money invested: $36.60 million
• Solo deals: 64, $20.48 million
• Group deals: 76, $16.12 million

Mark Cuban became the most prolific investor in Shark Tank history, deploying roughly $36.60 million on-air across 140 total deals split between 64 solo deals $20.48 million and 76 group deals $16.12 million. Joining as a guest Shark in Season 2, he quickly cemented his legacy as a fierce but empathetic dealmaker. Mark Cuban prefers scalable businesses with durable advantages. Data and his own statements reveal unique insights into his strategy:

1. Total Investment: He has deployed approximately $33 to $36 million across hundreds of deals on Shark Tank.
2. Returns & Profits: While he initially took a hit on early cash flow, his current portfolio is highly lucrative. He has generated around $35 million in cash returns and holds equity stakes valued at upwards of $250 million.
3. The Long Game: His philosophy centers on long-term ownership and avoiding pre-planned exit strategies. Because he rarely disposes of his holdings, his nominal and unrealized profits are massive compared to his initial capital outlays.

Mark Cuban’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Tower Paddle Boards has generated well over $40 million in total lifetime sales, establishing it as one of the most successful investments in the history of Shark Tank. Founder Stephan Aarstol operates the highly efficient business out of San Diego, California, and is widely recognized for pioneering the 5-hour workday. Mark Cuban invested $150,000 for a 30% equity stake in the company during a 2011 Shark Tank episode. The company’s direct-to-consumer efficiency has allowed it to pay Cuban over $1 million in cash dividends while he still retains his original equity share.
2. On Shark Tank, Mark Cuban invested $250,000 for a 20% equity stake in Shaan Patel’s SAT/ACT test preparation company, initially named 2400 Expert. Cuban suggested the name change to Prep Expert and helped scale the company into a highly successful brand that has generated over $20 million in revenue. The history and details of the company’s growth include: Shaan Patel entered Shark Tank in 2016 seeking $250,000 for a 10% stake. After most Sharks dropped out due to Patel balancing medical school with running a business, Cuban stepped in and negotiated a deal for 20% equity. Cuban proposed changing the name from 2400 Expert to Prep Expert to reflect that the company expanded its curriculum beyond the old 2400-point scale SAT to include ACT prep, book sales, and digital courses. Thanks to Cuban’s investment and the exposure from the show, Prep Expert quickly grew from doing $1 million in annual sales to over $20 million. Today, Prep Expert offers classroom, live online, and self-paced courses, and continues to be highlighted as one of Cuban’s most profitable Shark Tank investments.
3. Simple Sugar – Mark trusted Lani Lazzari’s all-natural face wash brand ‘Simple Sugar’ despite the low annual sales of $50,000. The sales boomed to $200,000 within a day, $1 million within the next six weeks, and $3 million within a year. The company signed deals with various prominent retailers and expanded its operations all over the US. Moreover, it had a $5 million revenue in 2023 and lifetime sales of $35 million. 

Robert Herjavec

• Money invested: $24.39 million
• Solo deals: 45, $17.05 million
• Group deals: 42, $7.34 million

Robert Herjavec’s Shark Tank portfolio reflects a combined $24.39 million invested across 87 total deals 45 solo investments worth $17.05 million and 42 group deals worth $7.34 million. His strategy focuses on mastering communication and investing strictly within his circle of competence rather than pursuing unproven general trends. Core Investing Traits:

1. Industry Specificity: He only backs businesses and sectors he deeply understands, avoiding industries where he lacks expertise.
2. The “Second Choice” Advantage: Because entrepreneurs often take his accommodating nature for granted, he often secures spots as a strategic backup investor—ultimately boosting his overall deal volume.
3. Personal Empathy: Born to a family of Croatian immigrants and raised in poverty, he often roots for underdogs and frequently relates to the hustle and financial struggles of early-stage entrepreneurs.

Robert Herjavec’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Tipsy Elves is widely considered one of the biggest success stories in Shark Tank history. After an entertaining pitch on the show, founders Evan Mendelsohn and Nick Morton secured a $100,000 investment for a 10% equity stake from Robert Herjavec.
2. Basepaws is a pet-genetics company founded by Anna Skaya that offers at-home DNA tests to help pet owners track breed ancestry and early-stage biological diseases. The company’s explosive growth and proprietary genetic databases led to its acquisition by animal-health leader Zoetis for more than $50 million in 2022.
3. Buttercloth is a patented, ultra-soft menswear brand founded by Danh Tran. It famously secured a $250,000 investment for 25% equity from Robert Herjavec on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Lori Greiner

• Money invested: $22.18 million
• Solo deals: 58, $12.90 million
• Group deals: 55, $9.27 million

Lori Greiner is one of Shark Tank’s most successful investors, boasting a portfolio that includes 6 of the top 15 best-selling products in the show’s history. Widely known as the “Queen of QVC,” she has an estimated net worth of $150 million, having made over 1,000 products and secured more than 120 patents. Below is an overview of her Shark Tank investment portfolio details:

Total Deals Secured: 113 (Second highest on the show, following Mark Cuban). Check Female Entrepreneurs on Shark Tank.

Lori Greiner’s best investments on Shark Tank 

1. Scrub Daddy is widely considered the most successful product in the history of Shark Tank, evolving into an empire with over 93 products, more than $1.3 billion in lifetime retail sales, and a presence in over 175,000 stores and 47 countries.
2. Squatty Potty became a cultural phenomenon after founders Judy and Bobby Edwards secured a deal with Lori Greiner on Shark Tank. Greiner ultimately invested $350,000 for a 10% equity stake. Propelled by viral marketing, the ergonomic toilet stool grew into a multi-million-dollar empire before being acquired by Aterian.
3. PhoneSoap is a prime example of the “Shark Tank Effect,” famously pitched by inventors Wes LaPorte and Dan Barnes in Season 6. Investor Lori Greiner acquired a 10% equity stake for $300,000 and successfully launched the UV sterilizer/charger on QVC, propelling the health-tech brand to over $150 million in lifetime retail sales.

Kevin O’Leary

• Money invested: $20.5 million
• Solo deals: 45, $13.55 million
• Group deals: 48, $6.95 million

Kevin O’Leary surprisingly has the fewest number of deals, despite being on the Show since Season 1. He struck 45 solo and 48 group deals, investing $20.5 million. Which is the next worst to Barbara Corcoran in the context of money?

The low numbers for Kevin O’Leary are understandable, as he demands a high ownership stake and prefers royalty considerations. Usually, entrepreneurs do not like how dominating and greedy Kevin O’Leary gets.

Moreover, the royalty deals are not the most popular on the Shark Tank because owners do not agree to give money out of their margins. Most of Kevin’s investments are in consumer products and businesses with high returns.

Kevin O’Leary’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Founded by Anna Skaya, Basepaws gained fame on Shark Tank in 2019, when Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec invested $250,000 for a combined 10% equity stake. At the time of the pitch, the cat DNA startup had $200,000 in lifetime sales.
2. Certifikid – Kevin invested $600,000 for 19% of a company that provided fun family activities for kids. The company was an established concern because it was expected to close the year with $5 million worth of sales. It started expanding as Kevin arranged more funds for them. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the business hard, but it resumed operations and continued to make millions.
3. Zipz ultimately ceased operations. Despite Kevin O’Leary making a record-breaking $2.5 million investment in 2014, the startup struggled to scale and could not sustain profitability. Today, the company is defunct and no longer operates in the single-serve packaging or licensing space.

Daymond John

• Money invested: $19.38 million
• Solo deals: 45, $8.09 million
• Group deals: 54, $11.29 million

Daymond John has deployed approximately $19.38million in deals on Shark Tank, participating in 45 solo deals worth $8.09million and 54 group deals worth $11.29million. He is known for his sharp retail expertise, often co-investing and competing with Lori Greiner to back brands with broad consumer appeal.

Daymond is often regarded as a pragmatic and highly generous investor who leans heavily into the “power of broke,” preferring founders who hustle rather than those who just want to throw cash at problems.

Daymond John’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Bombas is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative investments in Shark Tank history. Daymond John invested $200,000 to acquire a 17.5% equity stake in the company. Since then, Bombas has reached over $1.3 billion in lifetime sales and donated more than 150 million articles of clothing to those in need.
2. While the partnership between Al “Bubba” Baker and Daymond John initially appeared to be one of the most successful in Shark Tank history, the deal eventually devolved into a highly publicized legal battle.
3. Nate Holzapfel appeared on season 4 of Shark Tank in 2013 and successfully secured a $50,000 investment from Daymond John in exchange for 37.5% equity in the ratcheting, no-holes belt company he co-founded with his brother Zac and Jeff Jensen.

Barbara Corcoran

• Money invested: $12.3 million
• Solo deals: 45, $7.85 million
• Group deals: 33, $4.45 million

Barbara Corcoran’s total investment footprint on ABC’s Shark Tank exceeds $61.9 million across more than 130 deals throughout her 16-season tenure. While she is highly selective, her willingness to back driven entrepreneurs has made her one of the show’s most active and profitable investors. Barbara’s portfolio highlights an unconventional yet highly effective approach to venture capital:

1. Capital Deployed: Barbara has put a total of $61.9million into businesses over 16 seasons, which is notably higher than the $12.3million benchmark mentioned but still smaller compared to the massive venture funds deployed by some of her co-stars.
2. Deals Made: She has struck around 124 deals on-air, boasting an overall pitch investment rate of about 9.5%.
3. High Equity Demands: Barbara often demands higher equity, frequently hovering between 20% and 30% to protect her capital and incentivize founders.

Barbara Corcoran’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Barbara Corcoran’s $50,000 investment for a 30% stake in The Comfy stands as one of the most profitable deals in the history of Shark Tank. Despite the wearable blanket having no sales at the time of the 2017 pitch, the viral success of the product led to massive payouts.
2. Rick and Melissa Hinnant pitched their Austin-based knitwear company on Shark Tank, securing a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $175,000 with half structured as a line of credit in exchange for a 10% ownership stake.
3. Cousins Maine Lobster exploded from a single Los Angeles food truck into a massive national franchise after Barbara Corcoran invested $55,000 for 15% equity on Shark Tank. Today, the business has grown to over 85 units—including food trucks and restaurants—across 45+ cities, boasting over a billion dollars in lifetime sales.

Conclusion

Every Shark has had a great time on the show because most of their investments earned them the expected results. While some products failed and turned out to be a scam, the panel never hesitated to fund the companies that impressed them.

Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner hold top spots for deal volume and dollar amounts invested. Cuban is the most active investor in the tank. Across the first 16 seasons, he made well over 240 deals, totaling more than $33.6 million. Lori Greiner, often dubbed the “Queen of QVC”, boasts a high success rate, and some of the largest hits in the show’s history like Scrub Daddy and Everlywell, are in her portfolio. She is often right behind Cuban in total deals made.

Corcoran has historically completed roughly 120+ deals, which places her among the less active Sharks by sheer volume compared to Cuban. However, she has a renowned follow-through rate and has landed massive home runs, such as The Comfy. Other Sharks lagged behind Barbara Corcoran by a whisker. The stats are expected to change in the upcoming years but as of now, my analysis remains valid!