$135M On Shark Tank: Which Shark Has Invested The Most?

Shark Tank was produced to ensure that start-ups and innovative ideas get the much-needed investment and advice from seasoned investors to help them grow. Investors critically evaluate the businesses to assess the feasibility of the concepts. 

Some Sharks have been generous enough to let the entrepreneurs enjoy a solid valuation, while other Sharks are either too greedy or prudent. The general perception of each panelist has developed over the years.

Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner have been the most popular for their open-minded and plentiful investment decisions. However, this article will break a lot of stereotypes. 

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. 

Total investment: $135.4 million

1. Mark Cuban: $36.60 million
2. Robert Herjavec: $24.39 million
3. Lori Greiner: $22.18 million
4. Kevin O’Leary: $20.5 million
5. Daymond John: $19.38 million
6. Barbara Corcoran: $12.3 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 was not part of the Shark Tank panel in the first season. He joined the show during the second season as a guest Shark and instantly made an impact with his critical but kindhearted support to entrepreneurs. Despite joining the panel late, Mark Cuban has struck 64 solo and 76 group deals, which is the most by any Shark. 

Mark Cuban prefers investing in scalable businesses, no matter how risky it might be. He has saved start-ups on numerous occasions by offering generous valuations when other Sharks act greedy. As of now, Mark has invested $36.60 million in various businesses with the lowest realized profit on deals. However, his nominal profits on investments are high because he rarely disposes of his holdings.

Mark Cuban’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Tower Paddle Board – Mark invested $150,000 to own 30% of Stephan Aarstol’s company. Tower Paddle Board produced and sold inflatable paddle boards for enthusiasts. The company is currently earning an average revenue of $7 million per year. Mark has withdrawn over a million dollars as dividends from the company, which is very impressive. 
2. Prep Expert – Mark Cuban put $250,000 into 2400 Expert to help students ace their SAT exams. He compelled Shaan Patel to change the company’s name to Prep Expert. He helped the company penetrate the education sector which is evident from the current annual revenue of over $5 million. Check Prep Expert Shark Tank Update.
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 is known for his straightforward but generous nature. He has invested in various businesses on Shark Tank because he refrains from putting his money in industries that he knows nothing about. Moreover, entrepreneurs often take Robert’s generous nature for granted and see him as a second option. This thing also contributed to Robert’s good deal numbers. He struck 45 solo and 42 group deals.

Robert has been the most generous of all the Sharks on the panel as he has invested $24.39 million which is the second highest money sum after Mark Cuban (despite having the second lowest number of deals on the show). He could relate to the struggles of entrepreneurs, especially due to his immigrant background. 

Robert Herjavec’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Tipsy Elves – Tipsy Elves brought its ugly sweater product line to the show, where they struck a deal with Robert Herjavec despite other Sharks refusing to invest. Robert helped the company develop a versatile product line which ultimately resulted in $6 million in sales. Moreover, the Shark Tank update confirmed the company was expecting $8 million in sales.
2. Basepaws – Basepaw was a cat DNA product that helped the owners know about the biological diseases in their pets. Robert and Kevin invested $250,000 in the company for 15% equity. Basepaws had a sale of $200,000 when the show went on air. However, the business earned $3.5 million in revenue since then. It was sold to Zoeits in 2022 for 50 million.
3. Buttercloth – Robert invested in the clothing brand that “makes you look like Friday night and feel like a Sunday morning”. The comfortable clothing brand has grown ever since its appearance on the show. It made $3 million in sales within 7 months since its pitch.

Lori Greiner

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

Lori Greiner’s story is somewhat similar to Mark Cuban’s, as she joined Shark Tank in the later seasons. However, the queen of QVC did not hesitate to invest in every business she thought was capable of earning big numbers. Lori Greiner has secured 58 solo and 55 group deals, which is the second-highest tally after Mark Cuban. 

The amount of money that Lori has invested in various businesses is $22.18 million which is the third highest throughout the history of Shark Tank (after Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec). She has repeatedly stated that she instantly knows if a product is a zero or a hero. Most of her investments proved to be a hero, especially in the retail sector. Check Female Entrepreneurs on Shark Tank.

Lori Greiner’s best investments on Shark Tank 

1. Scrub Daddy – Aaron Krause presented Sharks with a unique sponge that varied its toughness according to the water temperature. Lori Greiner told Aaron that she would make him a millionaire and invested $200,000 in his company for a 20% stake. Years later, Scrub Daddy has $200 million in sales and is present in 30,000 retail stores & 17 countries.
2. Squatty Potty – Despite being a bathroom tool primarily focused on the pooping routine, Lori Greiner was interested in the product. She invested $300,000 for 10% ownership and paid another $300,000 for an additional 10%. She helped Judy and Bobby market their product smartly. The company now has lifetime sales of over $250 million.
3. PhoneSoap – PhoneSoap was a smartphone cleaning product that used ultraviolet rays to kill germs and also charged mobile phones. Lori acquired a 10% share in the company for a $300,000 investment. She promised to sell the product on QVC, which she did successfully. The company now has a lifetime turnover of $150 million. 

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 least 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 heavy returns.

Kevin O’Leary’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Basepaws – Basepaws was a cat DNA product that helped the owners know about the biological diseases in their pets. Robert and Kevin invested $250,000 in the company for 15% equity. Basepaws had a sale of $200,000 when the show went on air. However, the business earned $3.5 million in revenue since then. It was sold to Zoeits in 2022 for 50 million.
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 – Kevin made millions from the single-serve wine business, Zipz. He instantly saw potential in the company and invested 2.5 million for 10% equity and an option to buy more shares in the future. However, the company has shifted from manufacturing. Now it has licensed packaging for several wine brands while Kevin continues to work on public relations. 

Daymond John

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

Daymond John is one of the most underrated Sharks on the show despite being comparatively wealthier and generous. Daymond has struck 45 solo and 54 group deals. He mostly prefers investing in businesses with a bright retail future. He is often considered a direct competitor to Lori Greiner because they share the same interests and expertise. 

Daymond’s comparatively low number of deals is due to his demands for a high ownership stake in start-ups. Moreover, he has invested $19.385 million which is the fifth highest on the show. He has a lot of experience in the fashion designing sector besides the retail businesses.

Daymond John’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. Bombas – Regarded as one of the most profitable investments on Shark Tank, Daymond John invested $200,000 in Bombas to acquire 17% ownership. He could relate to the company’s vision to make comfortable socks for the poor and needy. The company sold 42 million products since Daymond’s investment and has made $225 million in sales.
2. Bubba’s Q – Daymond took a swing at the industry by investing $300,000 for 15% of the company. Bubba’s Q had $154,000 worth of sales when it pitched its product on the show. However, since Daymond’s investment, the sales rocketed to $16 million. The deal clearly benefited both parties.  
3. Mission belt – Nate Holzapfel pitched his product (a belt brand) on the show and received $50,000 by giving away 37.5% of the company. The entrepreneur was committed to lending $1 per unit sold to small businesses to help them grow. The company lent $1.5 million to several small businesses and made $8.2 million in sales in 2016.

Barbara Corcoran

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

Barbara Corcoran is widely regarded as the most prudent Shark who does not invest easily in start-ups beyond her expertise. You would see people commenting “-so for those reasons, I’m out” jokes below the YouTube video. However, I must tell you that the reality is different from what you always thought. 

Barbara has the third-most number of deals on Shark Tank. She has been on Shark Tank since Season 1, and as of today, she has struck 45 solo and 33 group deals across different sectors. She prefers investing in Real Estate or the Food Industry because she has the relevant experience.

Barbara is regarded as a demanding investor who usually asks for equity of over 20%. The number of deals she struck might be impressive, but she lags in total investments made to the businesses. She only invested $12.3 million, which is miserable, to say the least. However, Barbara is killing it as an investor.

Barbara Corcoran’s best investments on Shark Tank

1. The Comfy – Barbara hit a home run when she acquired 33% ownership of the Comfy for just $50,000. The oversized wearable blanket company did not have sales, but Barbara trusted the entrepreneurs. Her decision paid off, as she has made over $470 million from the company. 
2. Grace and Lace – Barbara Corcoran invested $179,000 in Grace and Lace to acquire 10% ownership. Rick and Melissa sold 50,000 pairs of fashionable socks when they appeared on the show. However, Barbara helped them increase the lifetime revenue to $50 million. The company has also built 13 facilities for orphans. 
3. Cousins Maine Lobsters – The Cousins Maine Lobsters was a food truck company that sold fresh lobsters delivered to various locations within 24 hours. Barbara invested $55,000 in the business for 15% ownership. The company has since acquired 50 food trucks and expanded its operations to 45 cities. It now earns over $50 million as annual revenue.  

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 has been a clear winner. He has invested in the most number of companies and contributed the highest amount of money to young entrepreneurs. Lori Greiner also has an impressive track record with her impressive clarity regarding where she wanted to put her money. 

Barbara Corcoran has surprisingly been at third place in the list of the most number of deals on the show. She had exited most of those businesses at the right time to realize her profits. 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!