Mark Cuban
Pittsburgh native and Indiana University graduate Mark Cuban has always been an entrepreneur. Soon after college, he founded MicroSolutions, which became a national leader in Systems Integration and custom applications for local and wide area networks, making it near the top of LAN Magazine’s LAN 100. Several years later, Cuban and business partner Todd Wagner started Audionet.com, the first commercial streaming company in the world.
After selling the company, Cuban then purchased the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million. The Mavs would have the second-best record in the NBA during his ownership tenure, get to the NBA Finals in 2006, and win the World Championship in 2011. Cuban sold majority control of the Mavs in 2023 but continues to be actively involved with the team.
In addition to the Mavs, Cuban has continued to be an active entrepreneur and investor. Along with Phil Garvin in 2001, Wagner and Cuban started HDNet and HDNet Movies, the world’s first all high-definition TV network. This then started the path for them to focus on building the first fully integrated media and entertainment company, adding Landmark Theaters, starting 2929 Productions, HDNet Films and Magnolia Pictures.
Cuban first appeared as a Shark on ABC’s Emmy® Award-winning hit business show “Shark Tank” in 2011 and quickly established himself as one of the most popular and tough Sharks throughout his tenure, investing millions of dollars in hundreds of small businesses. He’s been nominated nine times for an Emmy for “Shark Tank,” which includes four times for Outstanding Host of a Reality or Competition Program, and won the Emmy as an executive producer in 2024 for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. The vast number of companies he’s invested in are featured on www.markcubancompanies.com. Season 16 (2024-2025) will be his final appearance on the series.
In 2015, in response to vestibular issues Cuban was experiencing, he partnered with the doctors who currently operate DizzyAndVertigo.com to integrate Vestibular Rehabilitation software and VR Goggles to create a solution that offers an alternative to special devices that cost $190,000. The solution continues to be used and has helped thousands of people get relief from dizziness.
In 2019, Cuban co-founded Costplusdrugs.com. Its launch on Jan 19, 2022, with transparent pricing and a limited markup, has fundamentally changed the pricing of medications in the USA.
Other awards Cuban has earned include being named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Horatio Alger Award, the SXSW Hall of Fame, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and GQ Man of the Year.
He is married and lives in Dallas with his wife and three children.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
BIRTHDATE: July 31
