Company · Film & TV · founded 2009
Shark Tank
American business reality series that premiered on ABC on August 9, 2009. Entrepreneurs pitch a panel of angel investors called Sharks. It is the American version of the format Dragons' Den.
Of the 6 people here linked to Shark Tank, 0 are founders and 3 are still there. These are people who succeeded, not the odds of succeeding.
Description and founding year: en.wikipedia.org. Each person's role links to its own source on their profile.
6 people at Shark Tank
Investor Still there
Role
Original Shark (investor on the panel), 2009–now
Also at
Source
· medium confidence. The Shark Tank page says she and Daymond John have been sharks since the first season (premiered August 2009) and lists a season 18 in 2026; the Barbara Corcoran page says she has appeared in all 17 seasons so far. Neither is a dated cast list, so current status rests on Wikipedia.
Real Estate 4 / 5
Barbara Corcoran
Founder, The Corcoran Group; Shark Tank investor
working-class · outsider · college degree
Investor Still there
Role
Guest shark (seasons 11-15), promoted to main shark in 2024, 2019–now
Source
· medium confidence. Wikipedia-only. Season 11 aired in 2019 per the article's account of his first appearance; it also records him on the show in 2026 (season 17).
Food & Beverage · Consumer Products 3 / 2
Daniel Lubetzky
Founder of KIND snacks, which Mars bought out for a reported $5 billion in 2020, and of PeaceWorks and the Starts With Us movement
comfortable · well-connected · graduate degree
Investor Still there
Role
Shark (investor on the panel), 2009–now
Also at
Source
· medium confidence. The Daymond John page dates his joining to 2009 and the Shark Tank page lists him in the main cast; neither is a dated cast list, so current status rests on Wikipedia.
Fashion & Apparel 6 / 8
Daymond John
Founder, FUBU; Shark Tank investor
working-class · some · no college
Investor Past
Role
Guest shark (seasons 12, 14 and 16)
Also at
Source
· medium confidence. Guest appearances only; no years given on the page beyond season numbers.
Fashion & Apparel · Retail 4 / 4
Kendra Scott
Founder and executive chairwoman, Kendra Scott LLC
middle-class · outsider · some college
Investor Past
Role
Investor ("shark") on the ABC series, 2011–2025
Source
· medium confidence. Wikipedia says he joined for season two in 2011 and was a shark through 2025, but its lead gives 2012 to 2025. Wikipedia also says he announced season 16 would be his last.
Sports · Media 5 / 1
Mark Cuban
Co-founder, Broadcast.com; owner, Dallas Mavericks; "Shark Tank"; Cost Plus Drugs
working-class · some · college degree
Investor Past
Role
Guest investor (guest Shark) on several episodes of seasons 9 and 10
Also at
Source
· medium confidence. Wikipedia gives season numbers, not years.
Consumer Products 3 / 4
Sara Blakely
Founder, Spanx
comfortable · outsider · college degree