Shark Tank is an American business reality television series that premiered on August 9, 2009, on ABC.Hibberd, James (May 10, 2012). Dancing,' 'Bachelor,' and a bigger 'Shark Tank' returning to ABC" (). Insider TV. Retrieved June 24, 2012. The show is the American franchise of the international format Dragons' Den, a British television series, which itself is a remake of the Japanese television show The Tigers of Money (). It shows entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of five angel investors (providers of venture capital to early stage start-ups) called "Sharks" on the program, who decide whether to invest in their companies.
The series has been a ratings success in its time slot, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program five times (2014–2017 and 2024).
Premise The show features a panel of investors called "sharks", who decide whether to invest as entrepreneurs make business presentations on their company or product.Adalian, Josef (February 13, 2008). "Sony, Burnett dive into 'Shark Tank'" . Variety, "a version of the Japanese reality format". The sharks often find weaknesses and faults in an entrepreneur's product, business model or valuation of their company. Some of the investors are usually kind-hearted and try to soften the impact of rejection, such as panel member Barbara Corcoran, while others such as Kevin O'Leary can be "brutal" and might show "no patience even for tales of hardship". The sharks are paid as cast stars of the show, but a disclaimer at the start of each episode states the money they invest is their own. The same disclaimer also states that no offer of investment is being made to the viewer. The entrepreneur can make a handshake deal (gentleman's agreement) on the show if a panel member is interested. However, if all of the panel members opt out, the entrepreneur leaves empty-handed.
The show is said to portray "the drama of pitch meetings and the interaction between the entrepreneurs and tycoons". A pitch of around 45 minutes by a contestant is edited to about 11 minutes. As of 2018, approximately 35,000 to 40,000 entrepreneurs apply each season with about 1,000 advancing to the next step, 150 getting to pitch the sharks, and fewer than 100 making it on the air; most episodes contain four pitches per broadcast hour.
Post-show Shark cast member Kevin O'Leary believes about 20% of the handshake deals made on the show are never executed due to the investors' due diligence process following the handshake deal, which includes product testing and examining the contestants' business and personal financials. Fellow shark Robert Herjavec believes that about 90% of those withdrawals come from the entrepreneur, in some cases due to only appearing on the program for publicity.
The show is often responsible for what has become known as the Shark Tank effect. Simply appearing on the show, even without getting an offer, has the potential to significantly boost sales for companies. Some entrepreneurs have reported 10- to 20-fold increases in daily revenues after the show's airing.
Cast
Sharks
Two of the show's longstanding sharks, Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary, are Canadian entrepreneurs who had previously appeared on the Canadian version of the series titled Dragons' Den. Since 2023, Herjavec also appears on the Australian version of Shark Tank. American entrepreneurs Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran have been sharks since the first season. Since September 2024, Daniel Lubetzky, founder of the Kind snacks company, has appeared as a permanent shark. Mark Cuban, former principal owner of the Dallas Mavericks, first appeared as a guest during the second season in 2011, and was a permanent shark from the following year until his departure in the final episode of Season 16 that aired in May 2025. In 2026, Kendra Scott and Rashaun Williams were elevated to permanent sharks. Sharks Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Kevin Harrington colspan="2" colspan="16" Daymond John colspan="18" Barbara Corcoran colspan="18" Robert Herjavec colspan="18" Kevin O'Leary colspan="18" Mark Cuban colspan="14" colspan="2" Lori Greiner colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="15" Daniel Lubetzky colspan="10" colspan="5" colspan="3" Kendra Scott colspan="11" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="1" Rashaun Williams colspan="15" colspan="2" colspan="1" Jeff Foxworthy colspan="16" John Paul DeJoria colspan="4" colspan="13" Steve Tisch colspan="4" colspan="13" Nick Woodman colspan="5" colspan="12" Troy Carter colspan="6" colspan="11" Ashton Kutcher colspan="6" colspan="11" Chris Sacca colspan="6" colspan="3" colspan="9" Sara Blakely colspan="8" colspan="2" colspan="8" Richard Branson colspan="8" colspan="1" colspan="9" Bethenny Frankel colspan="8" colspan="2" colspan="8" Rohan Oza colspan="8" colspan="3" colspan="7" Alex Rodriguez colspan="8" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="6" Charles Barkley colspan="9" colspan="1" colspan="8" Matt Higgins colspan="9" colspan="2" colspan="7" Jamie Siminoff colspan="9" colspan="1" colspan="8" Alli Webb colspan="9" colspan="1" colspan="8" Katrina Lake colspan="10" colspan="1" colspan="7" Maria Sharapova colspan="10" colspan="1" colspan="7" Anne Wojcicki colspan="10" colspan="1" colspan="7" Blake Mycoskie colspan="11" colspan="1" colspan="6" Emma Grede colspan="12" colspan="3" colspan="3" Kevin Hart colspan="12" colspan="1" colspan="5" Peter Jones colspan="12" colspan="2" colspan="4" Nirav Tolia colspan="12" colspan="1" colspan="5" Gwyneth Paltrow colspan="13" colspan="1" colspan="4" Tony Xu colspan="13" colspan="1" colspan="4" Candace Nelson colspan="14" colspan="1" colspan="3" Michael Rubin colspan="14" colspan="1" colspan="3" Jason Blum colspan="14" colspan="1" colspan="3" Todd Graves colspan="15" colspan="1" colspan="2" Jamie Kern Lima colspan="15" colspan="1" colspan="2" Michael Strahan colspan="16" colspan="1" colspan="1" Allison Ellsworth colspan="16" colspan="1" colspan="1" Chip & Joanna Gaines colspan="16" colspan="1" colspan="1" Alexis Ohanian colspan="16" colspan="1" colspan="1" Fawn Weaver colspan="16" colspan="1" colspan="1" Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson colspan="17" colspan="1" Jeffrey Housenbold colspan="17" colspan="1" Mindy Kaling colspan="17" colspan="1" J. J. Watt colspan="17" colspan="1" Erin & Sara Foster colspan="17" colspan="1" Steven Bartlett colspan="17" colspan="1"
Notable companies
Some notable companies that have appeared on Shark Tank include:
Bombas Breathometer Coffee Meets Bagel Doorbot, now known as Ring (acquired by Amazon for $1 billion) – first entrepreneur to appear as a (Guest) Shark Kodiak Cakes (did not reach a deal) Mother Beverage, now known as Poppi (acquired by Pepsi for $1.95 billion) – second and first female entrepreneur to appear as a (Guest) Shark Scan (acquired by Snap Inc.) Scrub Daddy Groove Book (acquired by Shutterfly) Talbott Teas (acquired by Jamba Juice) Manscaped Plated (acquired by Albertsons) Mr. Tod's Pies - first product featured on Shark Tank on August 9, 2009
Due to show popularity, companies have falsely advertised that they've appeared on Shark Tank when the air rate is 0.22% (88 aired of 40,000 applicants for 2018 season). A full list of companies that actually appeared on Shark Tank can be found on ABC's website, with cult following websites such as AllSharkTankProducts.com, SharkTankContestant.com, Sharkalytics.com, SharkTankTales.com, and SharkTankSpotlight.com documenting details and products for all companies, and Gazette Review documenting episode recaps and updates on what happened "after Shark Tank".
Episodes
Shark Tanks seventeenth season premiered on September 24, 2025.
Timeline
Early seasons (2009–2013) Shark Tank premiered in August 2009 and aired 14 episodes through January 2010. In August, it was renewed for a second season.
Season 2 premiered with a "sneak peek" episode on Sunday, March 20, 2011, before resuming its regular Friday night time slot on March 25, 2011. Season 2 had 9 episodes, 5 of them featuring new panel members. Comedian Jeff FoxworthyDiNunno, Gina (August 10, 2010). "Jeff Foxworthy Joins ABC's Shark Tank" . TV Guide. and Mark Cuban replaced panel member Kevin Harrington in those episodes."Shark Tank: Mark Cuban Joins the Sharks for Season Two" . TV Series Finale. September 20, 2010 In season 2, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, and Robert Herjavec appeared in all nine episodes; Harrington appeared in four, Cuban in three, and Foxworthy in two.
Shark Tank third season premiered in January 2012. From the third season, Kevin Harrington was replaced by Mark Cuban, while the "queen of QVC" Lori Greiner replaced Barbara Corcoran on 4 episodes. Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, and Mark Cuban appeared in all 15 episodes of season three. In February, ABC ordered two additional episodes for season 3 using unaired footage, which brought the season's episode total to 15.
On May 10, 2012, Shark Tank was renewed for a fourth season consisting of 26 episodes. This is the first time the series received a full season order. Filming began on June 30, 2012. According to TV Guide, as of December 2012, the show's panel members had invested $12.4 million in the business opportunities presented to them during that season.Battaglio, Stephen (December 3, 2012) "Shark Attacks Prime Time!". TV Guide. pp. 4–5
In 2013, ABC renewed the show for a fifth season. Season 5 premiered on September 20, 2013. In October 2013, ABC ordered an additional two episodes for the season. In December 2013, ABC ordered another four episodes, bringing the season order to 29 episodes. Steve Tisch and John Paul DeJoria were added as panel members.
CNBC syndication (2013–2015)
In 2013, CNBC licensed exclusive off-network cable rights for the series from ABC."CNBC Licenses Off-Network Cable Rights to 'Shark Tank' from Disney-ABC Television Group" . CNBC. October 1, 2013 In May 2014, ABC announced a sixth season starting in September 2014. The series began its syndication run on CNBC on December 30, 2013.Pucci, Douglas (January 6, 2014). "Shark Tank Scores for CNBC on New Year's Day" .
The seventh season of the show premiered on September 25, 2015. Actor/investor Ashton Kutcher, music manager/CEO Troy Carter, and venture investor Chris Sacca all appeared as guest sharks.
New set (2017–present)
The ninth season of the show premiered on October 1, 2017, with guest shark Richard Branson. and a new, modern-looking set, Eames Lounge Chairs, penthouse views of a city, infinity pool, glass staircase to an upstairs lounge, and more space. The tenth season of Shark Tank subtitled "Decade of Dreams" premiered on October 7, 2018. The first episode of the 10th season marked the show's landmark 200th episode.
On February 5, 2019, ABC announced at the TCA press tour that Shark Tank will return for an eleventh season, which premiered on September 29, 2019. On May 21, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a twelfth season, which premiered on October 16, 2020. On May 13, 2021, ABC renewed the series for a thirteenth season, which premiered on October 8, 2021. On May 13, 2022, ABC renewed the series for a fourteenth season, which premiered on September 23, 2022, with a first ever live episode. On May 16, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a fifteenth season, which premiered on September 29, 2023.
On November 27, 2023, Mark Cuban revealed that he would be leaving Shark Tank following the show's sixteenth season. On May 10, 2024, ABC officially renewed the series for a sixteenth season, which premiered on October 18, 2024. During the season, frequent guest shark Daniel Lubetzky was promoted to one of the main sharks. On May 9, 2025, ABC renewed the series for a seventeenth season, which premiered on September 24, 2025.