Shark Tank star Daymond John addressed major changes coming to ABC's business reality series during interviews with Variety and People in October 2024. The FUBU founder shared insights about Mark Cuban's upcoming departure after Season 16 while confirming his own plans to stay with the Emmy-winning show.
Daymond John's comments surfaced alongside announcements about Daniel Lubetzky stepping into a primary shark role as the show enters a transition phase. The 55-year-old entrepreneur balanced frank admissions about working alongside Kevin O'Leary with broader observations about the show's enduring mission of supporting small business owners.
Shark Tank investor Daymond John addresses show changes and personal plans
Daymond John spoke directly about Cuban's exit during his Variety interview, acknowledging their shared time on set. Addressing the program’s future, John stated,
"The show will be around long after Mark, Daymond, Barbara and all of us."
Daymond John emphasized the Shark Tank's fundamental purpose.
“Who cares about the sharks, to tell you the truth…It is really about that mom and pop who have risked every single thing in their life and they need one shot.”
ABC confirmed Daniel Lubetzky's enhanced role as a primary shark while introducing Raising Cane's CEO Todd Graves to the panel. The production team maintains the core format through these changes, preserving established dynamics while welcoming fresh business perspectives.
Moreover, the FUBU founder connected this to his personal background, mentioning his experience as "that little dyslexic, brown boy named Daymond John" who found success through entrepreneurship. His full comment was,
“It’s about that kid, that little dyslexic, brown boy named Daymond John, who never thought he would be anything…who comes up with an idea and says, ‘I’m going to find a community that I love, and I’m going to empower my community.’”
The Shark Tank star maintained distance from political discussions ahead of upcoming elections, stating,
"Candidates will come and go, (political) parties will come and go... the people who make this country so great, it's the everyday entrepreneur."
In the same interview, he also stated,
“There’s one thing in the world that we can all agree upon as Americans: It’s the American dream…When you stand on that carpet, it doesn’t care about your color, your race, your gender, your creed. It cares about if you will wake up before everybody and go to sleep after everybody.”
Daymond John's focus remained on practical business impact rather than political endorsements.
John’s future focus
The fifth annual Black Entrepreneurs Day emerges as John's next major project, scheduled for November 22 at Atlanta's Fox Theater. The initiative has distributed over $1 million in grants to more than 40 Black-owned businesses since its inception.
This year's event features appearances by Kelly Rowland, Flavor Flav, and Charlamagne tha God, along with financial educators Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. Major sponsors including JPMorgan Chase, Hilton, T-Mobile for Business, and Constant Contact contribute an additional $100,000 in grants closing November 1, 2024.
John connected BED's origins to 2020's social movements, drawing parallels to his FUBU launch in 1992. The event combines notable speakers with practical support for emerging businesses, featuring Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles through J.P. Morgan Wealth Management's presentation.
Through structured programming and direct financial support, BED continues John's mission of fostering business development within communities.
Daymond John's Shark Tank legacy
Daymond John joined Shark Tank as one of the original sharks in 2009. The FUBU founder brings 15 years of experience evaluating business pitches on the ABC show. His investment portfolio through the show includes numerous successful ventures across fashion, technology, and consumer products.
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Viewers can catch Daymond John on Shark Tank Season 16.
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