Here are All of the Guests that Have Appeared on Shark Tank

 

It has probably happened to all of us who watch the show. We eagerly watch the introduction to the program and the announcer introduces a “guest shark”. It is at that point we all say “who is that”?

From its debut in 2009, ABC’s “Shark Tank” has been at the heart of entrepreneurial America, showcasing innovative ideas and rewarding business acumen. The show’s quintessential ‘Sharks’ have become household names. But, their ranks have often been bolstered by a distinguished group of ‘Guest Sharks’.

From iconic moguls to up-and-coming stars, the list of guest Sharks offers a unique blend of perspectives that augment the show’s dynamic. This article will take a deep dive into the diverse array of Guest Sharks that have graced the “Shark Tank”, exploring their background, business philosophy, and contributions to the show’s deal-making ecosystem.

It’s a voyage through different industries and areas of expertise, a testament to the show’s commitment to variety and inclusion, and an insightful look into what makes these guests tick. So, whether you’re a die-hard “Shark Tank” fan or simply fascinated by the entrepreneurial spirit, check out the tank’s intriguing variety of guest Sharks.

Kevin Hart

Known as one of the most popular actors, comedians, television personalities, and producers in recent history, Kevin Hart is also an active entrepreneur. His entertainment career includes starring in several hit movies including Get Hard in which he starred with Will Ferrell and Central Intelligence where he co-starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He has also hosted the 2011 BET Awards, the 2012 MTV Music Video Awards and resurrected Jerry Lewis’s annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon. The event was able to raise $10 million for its cause.

 As an entrepreneur, Hart founded his production company called Laugh Out Loud (LOL) in 2017. The company includes LOL Networks, LOL Studios, and LOL Audio. The cluster of organizations offers a platform for diverse comedians to share their comedy and gain exposure. In addition, he co-founded the activewear brand Fabletics Men.

Tony Xu

XU is best known as the co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, a leading on-demand food delivery service. Since its inception in 2013, Xu has successfully steered DoorDash’s expansion across North America and Australia, revolutionizing the way people access local businesses. Prior to DoorDash, Xu held roles at Square, eBay, and McKinsey and Company. A first-generation immigrant, Xu credits his entrepreneurial spirit to his parents, who came to America from China and ran a small restaurant to make ends meet. His experience growing up around small business operations largely influenced his desire to empower local businesses through technology.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Known for her roles in critically acclaimed movies like “Shakespeare in Love” and the “Iron Man” franchise, she transitioned into entrepreneurship by launching Goop, a lifestyle and wellness brand, in 2008. Goop started as a weekly newsletter and has since grown into a globally recognized brand encompassing fashion, beauty, home, wellness, and travel verticals. Paltrow has managed to successfully intertwine her love for acting and her passion for health and wellness in her dynamic career.

 

Nirav Tolia

Nirave Tolia is the co-founder of the world’s largest local social network, Nextdoor. His current net worth sits at just over $50 million.

Nextdoor works like other social networks where you can connect with people and share information, news, and thoughts. But instead of connecting with friends, people you went to high school with and co-workers, you can connect with people who live in your community. This allows you to share and stay up to date with the events happening in your own neighborhood.

In 2021, Nextdoor reported revenues of $181 million and has seen users each year grown. It currently has over 10 million members and includes 116,000+ neighborhoods in the U.S.

Peter Jones

Before Shark Tank, there was Dragon’s Den. First in Canada, then in the U.K. Dragon’s Den is the Canadian and U.S. version of Shark Tank and takes on the same format. Entrepreneurs pitch their idea to a panel of investors and have to convince those investors to take a chance on them and their business.

Pete Jones is an original member of the investor panel on Dragons Den U.K.  According to The Times, he is worth approximately £1.157 billion ($1,581,341,320). Jones started a computer business at age 16 which he eventually sold to IBM at a loss of £200,000 ($265,000). The loss forced Jones to move out of his 3 bedroom home and move back in with his parents.

He later went on to establish Phones International Group in 1998. Phones International Group, one of the fastest-growing businesses in Europe, generated £14 million worth of sales during its first year. It would go on to earn £33,213,187 ($44 million) in 36 months.

Peter Jones’s portfolio now includes businesses from technology, retail, fashion, and health foods as well as many other sectors. His current portfolio consists of over 30 different businesses.

Emma Grede

Emma Grede co-founder and CEO of Good American, a body-inclusive denim brand, and founding partner of Skims, a successful shapewear line with Kim Kardashian West. Grede’s business philosophy revolves around the idea of inclusivity, creating products that cater to all body types. She’s successfully disrupted the fashion industry, making a significant mark by offering a wide range of sizes and promoting body positivity. Grede is not just an entrepreneur; she’s a change-maker who is continually breaking barriers in the fashion world.

Blake Mycoskie

Blake Mycoskie best known as the founder of TOMS Shoes. He introduced the innovative “One for One” business model— for every pair of shoes sold, a new pair would be given to a child in need. This revolutionary approach earned Mycoskie immense recognition and helped TOMS grow into a globally recognized brand. Mycoskie has since applied the “One for One” model to other businesses, such as eyewear and coffee. His entrepreneurial journey and commitment to philanthropy have been a significant influence in the business world, inspiring a new wave of social entrepreneurship.

Kendra Scott

Scott Started her company Kendra Scott LLC with just $500. She turned a mini-jewelry collection into a billion-dollar business. Her unique designs and commitment to customer service quickly set her brand apart. Scott’s philanthropic efforts are integral to her brand—she’s donated millions in cash and products to various causes. Her entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with her passion for philanthropy, have made her an influential figure in the fashion and business industries.

Maria Sharapova

Most people know Sharapova as one of the greatest female tennis players in the world. Sharapova’s career was marked by five Grand Slam titles before she retired in 2020. Off the court, Sharapova has been equally successful. She launched Sugarpova, a premium candy line, in 2012, showcasing her keen business acumen. Sharapova’s transition from sports to business has been seamless, proving that her determination and competitive spirit extend beyond the tennis court.

Katrina Lake

Lake is the founder and CEO of Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service that uses algorithms to personalize fashion choices for its customers. Lake revolutionized the retail industry by fusing technology with a personal touch. Under her leadership, Stitch Fix went public in 2017, making Lake the youngest female founder to take a company public at that time. Her innovative thinking and forward-looking approach to retail have marked her as one of the leading figures in the tech industry.

Daniel Lubetzky

Daniel Lubetzky is the founder and CEO of the snack company KIND. Lubetzky started the not-only-for-profit company in 2004 as a healthy snack alternative.  KIND’s value proposition was the idea the you should be kind to your body, tastebuds, and to the world. The company has since become the fastest growing snack company in the U.S. Lubetzky is also very active philanthropist. He has launched and been a part of several philanthropic organizations including a public advocacy organization called Feed the Truth, KIND Foundation, andOneVoice Movement, an international grassroots effort, to amplify the voices of moderate Israelis and Palestinians seeking to end the conflict.

Anne Wojcicki

Wojcicki is the cofounder and CEO of 23andMe, a pioneering direct-to-consumer DNA testing firm. She co-founded the company in 2006 along with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza. In 2007, the company received in investment of $3.9 million from Google (at the time, Wojcicki was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin). In 2019, the company saw it’s revenue exceed $450 million.

Jamie Siminoff

Jamie Siminoff had big dreams for his invention and hoped the sharks would share his vision. When his company appeared on Shark Tank back in 2013, it was pitched under the name of “Doorbot”. The idea of the world’s first-ever WiFi video doorbell definitely intrigued the sharks. However, not enough for any of them to go ahead and make the deal. Siminoff’s success story is particularly remarkable as he was initially rejected on “Shark Tank” before going on to build a hugely successful business. Siminoff’s innovative thinking and perseverance have distinguished him as a leading figure in the tech industry, revolutionizing home security with a simple yet powerful idea.

The home security company was later acquired by Amazon for over $1 billion.

Matt Higgins

Higgins is a successful entrepreneur, investor, and executive. As the co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures, he’s helped build companies across various industries, from sports and entertainment to food and technology. Higgins is also known for his role as Vice Chairman of the Miami Dolphins. His diverse experience and astute business acumen have led him to work with high-profile businesses and personalities, including the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk and Stephen Ross.

Charles Barkley

Coming out of college while playing basketball for the Auburn Tigers, Charles Barkley earned the nickname “The round mound of rebound”. He was known for being a fearless and aggressive player with a big personality. Barkley went on to become one greatest power forwards in NBA history. Post-retirement, he transitioned into television and is now a popular analyst on “Inside the NBA.” Barkley’s larger-than-life personality and frank commentary have won him millions of fans in his broadcasting career. In addition to his work in sports, Barkley has been involved in various charitable endeavors and political activism.

Alli Webb

Alli Webb started her chain of blow dry-only salons named Drybar in 2010 after recognizing a gap in the market. It quickly grew into a multi-million dollar business. Webb’s entrepreneurial journey has been a testament to her vision, passion, and ability to create a successful business from a simple yet innovative idea. In 2018, Webb also co-founded Squeeze, a massage spa chain designed to elevate the wellness experience.

Rohan Oza

As the former Chief Marketing Officer at Glaceau, Oza played an integral role in the success of brands like Vitaminwater and Smartwater, leading to their acquisition by Coca-Cola. Oza’s unique approach to brand partnerships, which involves partnering with influential celebrities, has made him one of the most sought-after marketing minds in the business.

Alex Rodriguez

Known as one of the best baseball players of his generation, Rodriguez played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees during his illustrious career. Post-retirement, Rodriguez transitioned into business and now manages a full portfolio of investments through his company, A-Rod Corp, which spans real estate, sports, wellness, and entertainment.

Sara Blakely

Sarah Blakely took her $5,000 savings to start up Spanx.  It took her a year to create the first prototype that she tried out on friends and family, which was unheard of at the time. She was running the company out of her apartment and was still a fax machine salesperson at the time.

Her big break came when she met with a Neiman Marcus Group.  Blakely was able to prove the benefits of Spanx by changing into the product in the ladies restroom in the presence of the Neiman Marcus buyer.  Soon after, Blakely sent a basket of products to the Oprah Winfrey Show and Spanx eventually made the list Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2000.  This endorsement helped drive sales to about $10 million the following year.   These days, the company generates an estimated $400 million annually.

Blakely owns the entirety of the brand. She is now reportedly worth $1.0 billion.

 

Bethenny Frankel

Frankel first gained fame as a cast member on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” but it’s her business acumen that’s made her a household name. Frankel is the founder of the Skinnygirl lifestyle brand, which offers low-calorie cocktails and health-conscious products. Her straightforward personality and business success have made her an influential figure in the world of entertainment and business.

 

Chris Sacca

Known for his signature cowboy shirts, venture investor and entrepreneur Chris Sacca is also one of the wealthiest investors to have appeared on Shark Tank.  Sacca is the proprietor of Lowercase Capital, an investment firm best known for investing in early stage funding for companies such as Kickstarter, Twitter, Uber and Instagram.

Chris served as Head of Special Initiatives at Google Inc.Chris also spearheaded many of Google’s business development and M&A transactions. Before joining Google, Chris held a number of executive roles at Speedera Networks, one of the world’s largest streaming and digital media distribution companies.

Sacca announced that he was retiring from venture investing in 2017. However, in 2021, he returned to the field of investing. This time, however, he decided to focus on climate change with his fund called Lowercarbon Capital.

Many fans of the show enjoyed watching Sacca on the show. However, one of the show’s main cast didn’t care much for the venture capitalist. Barbra Corcoran saying “He is so arrogant and full of himself that I just wanted to go over there and knock him off his chair.”

 

Troy Carter

Carter is the founder, chairman and CEO of Atom Factory, a talent management and full-service film and television production company.  He is best know for helping acts such as Lady gaga and the rapper Eve, reach stardom.  Born in Philadelphia, he has also managed acts such as John Legend and Nelly.

He made a guest appearance on Shark Tank during the 7th season.  Carter is no stranger to funding startups.  He created AF Square, an angel fund and technology consultancy with investments in over 40 startups including Spotify,  Songza, Dropbox, and Uber.  He also created A \ IDEA which is a branding and product development agency.

 

Ashton Kutcher

Known for playing the childish and dimwitted Kelso on the hit Fox sitcom That 70s Show, Ashton Kutcher has found greater success as a venture capitalist.  Kutcher started his entertainment career as a model appearing in ads for Calvin Klein.  He went on to star in numerous movies and television shows including MTV’s Punk’d a widely popular program where Kutcher produced and hosted.

He co-founded the investment firm A-Grade Investments in 2010.  This was where he proved that he was more than just an actor.  For example, Kutcher and A-Grade invested $500,000 into Uber in 2011.  Uber is currently valued at over $48 billion.   A-Grade has also invested in companies such as Airbnb, Flipboard, and Change.org.  In 2016 it was reported that the company was able to turn a $30 million investment  into $250 million.

 

Nick Woodman

Woodman is best known as the founder of GoPro, a technology company that develops action cameras. Inspired by a surfing trip, Woodman started GoPro to help adventurers capture their experiences. Under his leadership, GoPro has become a household name, fundamentally changing the way people capture and share their adventures. Woodman’s innovative thinking and his passion for adventure have made him a prominent figure in the tech industry.

 

Richard Branson

With a net worth of $3.9 billion, the richest guest shark that has ever appeared on shark tank is Virgin Group founder, philanthropist and author Richard Branson.  Virgin Group owns over 400 companies.

Branson began his entrepreneurial career at age 16 when he started a magazine called Student.  After opening up a successful record store, Branson eventually launched a record label called Virgin Records.  Virgin Records would soon sign artists such as The Rolling Stones, UB40, The Sex Pistols and Steve Winwood.  The label would go on to be one of the most successful labels in the world until 1992 when Branson sold the label to Thorn EMI for $1 billion.

Branson’s business success would continue with Virgin America, Virgin Mobile, and the commercial spaceflight company, Virgin Orbit.  In 2016 Virgin Group had a estimated revenue of about $19.6 billion.  Beyond building billion dollar businesses, Branson is also known for being an eccentric billionaire.  He has attempted to break several world-records including crossing the Pacific Ocean in a hot air ballon.

John Paul DeJoria

With only $700 in his pocket, living out of his car, and while raising a 2 year old son, Dejoria worked hard to launch his brand Paul Mitchell.  He is the founder of Patron Tequila Company.

As a youth, Dejoria was a member of a street gang.  After graduating high school, he spent 2 years in the Navy.  After the Navy, Dejoria struggled to stay afloat while living in Los Angeles.  He took jobs like pumping gas, being a janitor, and even collecting bottles.

DeJoria eventually began selling encyclopedias and in 1966 John received “Man of the Year Award” from Collier’s Encyclopedia for being their top salesman.

He formed John Paul Mitchell Systems with hairdresser Paul Mitchell in 1980.  In 1989,  DeJoria co-founded the Patrón Spirits Company.  He also has a business interest in the African oil industry through his holdings in Madagascar Oil Ltd. Forbes lists DeJoria’s net worth at $2.8 billion.

 

Steve Tisch

Tisch is the chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, the NFL team co-owned by his family. Tisch is also a renowned film producer, with credits including Forrest Gump and Risky Business. His successful ventures in both the sports and film industries have made him a notable figure in entertainment and business.

 

Jeff Foxworthy

Best known for his “you might be a redneck” jokes, Foxworthy was a guest on Shark Tank during the 2nd season of the show. He’s a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe that brought him widespread fame. In addition to his comedy career, Foxworthy is also a successful author, having written several books, including children’s books. His humor and down-to-earth personality have endeared him to audiences across the country.

While on the show, Foxworthy made a deal with 2 companies. One was a brand called Hillbilly Brand which he split with Daymond John and Robert Herjevic. The other was a company named Hydromax.

Kevin Harrington

If you remember Harrington, you are a true fan of Shark Tank. More than just a guest, Harrington was one of the original “sharks” on the show. He is recognized as a pioneer in the infomercial industry. He’s the founder of “As Seen On TV,” a multi-product business that harnesses the power of direct-response television advertising.”  His innovative approach to direct marketing has had a profound impact on the industry. After leaving the show, Harrington continued to innovate and invest in all types of businesses.

 

Photo credits: TheRangePress – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, and others Under CC

 

Also Read:

The 20 Best Shark Tank Episodes Ever

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